The Parable of the Two Sons & Homeless Jesus (Matthew 21:28-32)

The ‘Homeless Jesus’ statue was sculpted by Timothy Schmalz (sculpturebytps.com), to bring attention to the chronic problem of homelessness in Toronto and depicts a homeless person on a bench, covered in a blanket. On closer inspection there is a noticeable characteristic, the person bears the wounds of crucifixion. This is Jesus, the homeless wandering preacher. One particular parish were initially enthusiastic in having the sculpture outside their doors but after some reflection decided against it. Parishioners found it ‘offensive’; ‘provocative’ and ‘not an appropriate image’. One lady even called the police! What a debacle?! The ‘Homeless Jesus’ statue eventually found a home; a place where Christians were not afraid to acknowledge Jesus in the most marginalised. The work is now considered to be a meditation on Matthew 25.

Today’s parable reminded me of that story. The parable is a simple tale about two brothers, one who eventually shows through his actions that he has heard a message, the other who does not. The chief priests listening to the parable are forced to admit that it is the first brother who has acted correctly. However, they are behaving more like the second.

It is almost comical listening to Jesus say: ‘the tax collectors and prostitutes are going into the Kingdom ahead of you’.

‘I have long since come to believe that people never mean half of what they say, and that it is best to disregard their talk and judge only their actions.’
Dorothy Day

God's Love Is Just Different ~ Mt 20:1-16 (Sunday 21st September 2014)

In today’s parable Matthew is addressing an issue in the community where people are unhappy with certain groups being included in God’s Kingdom… they were there first! We can identify with the characters: times when we felt hard done by; times we made comparisons between ourselves and others. Whereas ‘THEY’? Well, ‘they’ are the cause of the problem, benefiting in some way from our perceived injustice.

“Friend, I am doing you no wrong.” This is a moment of grace where God is freeing people from jealousy; there is enough to go around, everyone has received what they were promised. Even in our relationships with one another, people sometimes want to possess and take all for themselves. In reality God (and people) can love others unconditionally without taking anything away from us. If we could liberate ourselves from such insecurities and not let them take hold, life would be a lot happier. Have you been wronged? Has an injustice occurred to anyone else? No, then why worry? The workers expect a judgemental God and often we too confine our image of God to a distributor of justice. God’s justice is more concerned with generosity and compassion, there is plenty for all. God’s love is just…different.

“True love is delicate and kind, full of gentle perception and understanding, full of beauty and grace, full of joy unutterable... With such a love one would see all things new; we would begin to see people as they really are, as God sees them.” ― Dorothy Day

A divine attribute (Matthew 18:21-35) Sunday 14th September 2014

Ten thousand talents today are estimated to be in the hundreds of millions! So it would be a foolish King who would allow a ‘servant’ to clock up debt to that mount (you would think!). Even though his debt is completely cancelled, the ‘servant’ is not so forgiving when it comes to his own household. One denarius would be the equivalent of the wages of a labourer for a day, so one hundred day’s wages is a drop in the ocean in comparison. Those who witness these events are ‘greatly distressed’ and decide to protest. You don’t have to look too far today to draw parallels to this parable.

Peter asks a vital question: how many times do you forgive? The answer may disturb some people but it can also liberate us if we allow it to: seventy–times– seven, i.e. an infinite number of times. This might seem idealistic and even ridiculous, but when we think more about it there is no other option. Without forgiveness we allow bitterness to engulf and torture us; zapping our energy; preventing us from being at peace with ourselves. When we only seek retribution, we enter into chaos.

“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.. When we forgive evil we do not excuse it, we do not tolerate it, we do not smother it. We call it what it is, let its horror shock and stun and enrage us, and only then do we forgive it.” (Lewis B. Smedes)

“I shall be there with them” (Matthew 18:15-20)

Matthew 18 is a discourse on relations within the Christian community and today’s Gospel gives some very practical advice about a problem we all encounter: conflict. The beautiful phrase ‘you have won back your brother’ highlights the importance of resolving our differences with one another; love sometimes involves confrontation. We may involve others to help mediate but only when the first stage has failed. To seek help requires great humility and involving the wider community may seem harsh, but we should not be naïve, lasting peace sometimes requires mediation.

There is an unusual verse referring to tax collectors and Gentiles and the drastic steps that are taken in order to protect the community. Perhaps it is these groups of people who are calling on the community to face facts and to move forward. Mediation is not an easy task, whether it be a parent dealing with conflict in the family; a diplomat brokering peace-keeping deals in conflict zones; a counsellor journeying with two people; conflict is all around us. Today’s Gospel urges dialogue, patience, perseverance and the space to allow grace to enter.

“The conclusion of our meditation is not ‘Jesus tells us to do this,’ but, ‘Let us celebrate Jesus at work in the world.’ We recognise moments of grace when we ourselves lived this teaching, and celebrate the great people who by word and example taught us to live it.” (Michel de Verteuil)