LIVING CONFIDENTLY GROUNDED IN CHRIST II
Philippians 4:1-9; Matthew 22:1-14
20th Sunday after Pentecost, October 15, 2023
Pastor Ritva H Williams
We meet Jesus again this morning in the Jerusalem temple teaching. This is the third in a series of parables Jesus tells in response to the question “by what authority” he is doing “these things.” The first parable made the point that the proof of faith is in what we do, not in what we say. The second parable concludes that the Lord of the vineyard will come, not with revenge like a household despot as the crowd expects, but with resurrection and new life to those who have been rejected.
Today we will consider the third parable which begins with a statement of intention, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king giving a wedding banquet for his son” (22:2). In order words, Jesus asks his audience to consider two things. On the one hand, what they know about the kingdom of heaven, a.k.a. kingdom of God a.k.a. doing God’s will on earth at it already done in heaven. On the other, what they know about kings who host wedding banquets. A comparison (remember those class assignments compare & contrast) always involve revealing similarities and differences.
The parable king issues invitations that rejected by the guests. He makes multiple attempts to entice them attend which no one takes seriously. Some invitees even kill the king’s slaves, which in turn enrages the king who sends his troops to destroy them and their city. Since the banquet is all ready to go, the king sends his slaves to gather everyone they can find, both good and bad, to fill the banquet hall. [this event occurs between the last call invites and the hors d’oeuvres]. When the king finally enters he sees a man who is not wearing a wedding robe and has him thrown out.
As one commentator states, this parable makes no sense. It is offensive. There is nothing proportionate or balanced about this king’s behavior. He is erratic, impetuous and capricious with a penchant for arbitrary and excessive violence. Jesus’ first century audience would have recognized “this king as a demanding and venomous ruler like Herod.” Matthew’s Gospel tells us of Herod’s order to slaughter the infants in Bethlehem, and the murder of John the Baptist at Herod Antipas’ birthday party. History includes other acts of murderous violence against innocent people by Herod and his sons.
When Jesus invites his audience to consider and evaluate God’s rule alongside that of this king, what do you think he wanted his audiences, then and now, to conclude? [God is like Herod?????]
God self-identifies as “gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love (Exodus 34:6). This statement is repeated in the Hebrew Scriptures over 200 times. Christ’s earliest followers not only proclaimed that God loves the world (John 3:16), but that in fact God is love (1 John 4:16). As Christians, we believe that Jesus the Christ shows us what God is really like and how God behaves.
Using that criteria, there is only one sentence in this parable that reflects Jesus’ behavior — the instruction to invite everyone you find on the streets to the banquet. If the king in this parable is supposed to represent God/Christ, wouldn’t he have invited everyone, good and bad, to the banquet right from the beginning? Would Christ have cared what that one guest wasn’t wearing a wedding robe?
The good news in today’s parable is that the kingdom of heaven — a.k.a. kingdom of God, a.k.a. God’s rule, a.k.a. doing God's will on earth as it is done is heaven does not involve anyone in heaven or earth acting like the capricious and violent rulers of this world.
I’m very glad that our lectionary readings present these grim parables in which Jesus confronts the religio-political authorities of his day alongside the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians. In these readings we see how the earliest Christ-followers knew, lived and shared Christ with one another and their neighbors. They knew God in Christ as gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. They knew Christ as one who did not exploit divine or human status and power over anyone, but used both for the benefit of others especially the least, the last, and the lost.
In today’s reading, the apostle encourages us to stand firm in the Lord — to live confidently grounded in Christ. When there is disagreement, overcome it by focusing on one thing — the work of the gospel for the common good. We can do this by rejoicing — finding joy — in the Lord. Joy is not about being happy or having fun all the time. Joy is confidently trusting that no matter what happens we are firmly grounded in Christ, named and claimed as God’s beloved children already now just as we are. Yet God has no intention whatsoever to leave us just as we are now. God’s dream for us — God’s invitation to us — is a journey of transformation and change [growing into our true image of God selves].
Knowing that the Lord is near, here and now and always, empowers us to live confidently, acting toward everyone with gentleness rather than anger or violence. Knowing the Lord is never empowers us to live without worry, anxiety or fear, turning to God in prayer, supplication and thanksgiving. Prayer, supplication and thanksgiving are spiritual practices that support us in our journey of transformation. Thanksgiving is a way to express joy, even as it produces joy. Through prayer we open our minds, hearts and souls to experience God’s peace which surpasses all understanding and makes us whole. Thus confidently and prayerfully grounded in Christ, we can be honest, respectable and fair, seek holiness and wholeness in our relationships, and graciously and affirmatively lift each other up. To live confidently grounded in Christ is to be guided by the God of peace.
I will offer one caveat, when we try to live this way in real life, it is not unusual to be confronted by people who have a very different set of values. Sometimes they appear in our lives as outright bullies. Others are passive aggressive, or try to manipulate our kindness and love for their own selfish ends. The good news is that living confidently grounded in Christ does not mean that you or I are called to be doormats for anyone to walk over. This Facebook post from Mindful Christianity says it very plainly:
You can be a kind person & still:
say no
prioritize your needs
set boundaries
disagree with people
be honest
challenge poor behavior
walk away from toxic environments
make mistakes
stand up for yourself
protect your time and space.
So continue doing the things you have learned and received over the years. Remember that you are all beloved children of God, created in God’s image, worthy to be treated with respect and dignity, uniquely gifted to make a positive contribution to God’s world. The good news is that you are not alone in this journey, God in Christ walks alongside you.
A paraphrase of Psalm 23 by Pastor John van de Laar (sacredise.com)
God, you are enough for us; you give us rest in soft fields and beside whispering streams;
you restore and renew us, and lead us into life-giving ways;
When death and evil come close to us, you carry us through, you protect and comfort us;
when others seek to do us harm, your grace uplifts and provides for us in public view;
you fill us with your strength and we enjoy overflowing abundance;
We have confidence that your goodness and compassion will fill our days,
and we will stay immersed in your life and presence forever.
Amen.
