On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines. On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, the web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face; the reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken. On that day it will be said: ""Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! This is the LORD for whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!"" For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain. (Isaiah 25:6-10)
Yes, the LORD has provided a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines. This feast is called diversity – people being of all colors and from all nations. Yes, the LORD will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, the web that is woven over all nations. We hope so, that we all unveil and remove the webs that blind us to the richness of diversity by condemning racism and those who promote white supremacy, an outdated but rising cruel attitude in recent years.
We may think of ourselves as Jesus’ sheep and not goats. The goats are on Jesus’ left and assigned a not-so-nice destination. The sheep are on the right. Frankly, we are all goats who must think rightly. Regardless of our position whether on the right or left, we must erase racism; otherwise, our houses will fall to those who seek to overcome us through political and nationalist division and tribal thinking. In the accompanying photo see black, white, and brown goats with blended colors being side by side in a peaceful setting (photo taken in Aquinnah near the Gay Head lighthouse]. If only we goats would do the same.
A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’ Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them.
The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’
The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests, he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. The king said to him, 'My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?' But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ Many are invited, but few are chosen." (Matthew 22:1-14)
Our Gospel also speaks of diversity: “The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests.” Here Jesus speaks of the “bad” and “good” being gathered together. Of course, who is bad and who is good depends on one’s perspective (such as political party affiliation). The wedding garment might represent a willingness to listen with an open mind to the other opinion and position. Without that willingness (garment), we are banned from the hall and the feast. Jesus graphically tells us our fate. Our hands and feet are bound, and we are cast into the darkness outside, where there is wailing and grinding of teeth. The far better option is to “wear the wedding garment.”
We approach the 2020 elections. We are all guests in our wonderful nation. It is time to follow Jesus. He is our Way and our Light in the darkness. His Truth will set us free.
Deacon David Pierce
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