Sermon, Proper 24 Year A (2023)

This week’s readings, at first glance, are not necessarily the most comfortable.
Yet the search for Good News had me reflecting on gifts. There's a difference, I think, in what we do with gifts that are given to us.
We accept them - literally take them in.
And we receive them - we open them, use them, appreciate them.

Two stages; but they are distinct. And that distinction is important: because we know of times when we accept and receive a gift;
There are other times when we might accept a gift, and then - intentionally or unintentionally - we don't receive that gift. It sits unopened, unloved, gathering dust in the back corner of the closet.
Or even other times when we accept a gift, knowing that we intend to reject it.

Let's consider this in the context of our readings today.

In the Exodus narrative, the chosen people of Israel have been given the gift of freedom: they are no longer slaves, they are no longer in Egypt. Instead, they are free to worship, free to travel, free to love and live as they choose. No longer oppressed and denied their basic rights, God has given them Moses and Aaron, who led them on their journey. What a gift!

Then, out of sight out of mind! Moses is up a mountain longer than expected, and the people, fully aware of the great gift they've been given react: badly.

They reject the gift. They've accepted the gift of freedom - they're out of Egypt.
They've seen the gift that's been given - God's protection and leadership.
And yet, because it's taking longer than they want it to, and it’s a change different than they expect it: they reject the gift.
They reject God, choosing instead something they can touch and taste and mold in their own image.
Something that they have contributed to, that they feel ownership over.
Something false, something very earthly and temporary.
"Distracted by shiny object" is an understatement!

Yet despite this, the giver keeps giving. God tells Moses he needs to straighten out the flock. God gives Aaron the chance to shift from rebellious pot-stirrer to one of the chief priests of all the people: a chance we know he accepts and received. God continues, despite the people's rejection, to shower grace upon them.
Grace: the gift that keeps on giving.

Our psalm reminds us of this exact place in Israel's history.
Praise the Lord! it declares. Get your mind away from those sparkly earthly distractions and praise the Lord!
God's love is stronger than golden calves or rival teams or social status or anything else that we use as an excuse to create divisions.
Praise the Lord! Accept the gift; receive the gift. Live in the gracious gift of love.

As Paul is writing his letter, he is sending the same message: Praise God.
Don't be distracted.
Stand firm in the Lord! Even when earth's realities are overwhelming – a simple look at the headlines right now can be soul-crushing.
Yet even as the world seems to be pulling us away from the gifts that God gives, Paul wants us to hold one another up in Christ.
To rejoice – or refill ourselves with joy.
And to celebrate that the peace of God - God's great gift, which we don't have to understand or explain or justify to anyone - the gift of God's peace and grace will surround us and give us strength and encourage us to stay deeply rooted in the ways of the Lord.
Keep on doing all things for the glory of God and as stewards of the abundance, and the God of peace will gift you with his grace.
Again: God's grace is the gift that keeps on giving.

Then the Gospel – what a whirlwind! How are we feeling about the Gospel?

The parable starts off a bit rocky, with some folks deciding they’re too important and independent to accept a dinner invitation. Then there’s the feast where everyone is welcomed – of course we like this part – as we dwell in the invitation and receive the gift of hospitality.
Everyone wants in on this party. And Jesus is speaking in parables about God's kingdom - grand! God is the host, we are all invited, beautiful. God never stops reaching out to all of humanity.
And many of us then struggle with the end of the parable, where we hear about a … well, let’s nicely call it a rather harsh dress code.

Until we dig deeper into the teachings of Jesus: because there’s a deeper message here.

It’s helpful for us to remember that the audience for this parable, the “them” to whom Jesus is speaking, is the Pharisees. A group known for exclusionary practices.
And a parable itself, is designed to challenge the listener by reversing traditional patterns of thought or practice.

Jesus uses this rhetoric to challenge those who would refuse, deny, or even withhold the gift of God’s grace.

The robe he mentions wasn’t a fashion statement, it was a very clear indication that you belonged in the community. Everyone was gifted the robe: you accepted the gift by coming to the party, you received the gift by wearing it – likely with a grateful heart.

So Jesus’ context of the parable is that in God's kingdom, all are welcome, all are wanted, all are offered the gift of the grace of God which is to be worn like a robe.

Yet this person broke some cultural norms; he accepted the invitation, yet disrespected the host by not receiving the gift.
He’s essentially posturing himself as an invited guest who then flaunts his disassociation with the others, presenting himself as more important than even the host.

He has demonstrated to everyone who would see him that he is his own deity.
He will NOT be robed in God’s mercy. He has denied God’s grace. He has chosen instead to rely on his own self.

No wonder he gets himself removed from the premises!
And Jesus teaches us a very clear message. Those who wish to be judged by their human actions, will be so judged: and there will be consequences.

But those who wish to truly be judged by their spiritual selves (imperfect but humble, accepting and receiving what God offers) will be judged by God, and by God alone.

How wonderful, then, to be reminded of the ever-flowing gifts that God continually wraps around us: the gift of love... the gift of peace... the gift of mercy... the gift of forgiveness... the gift of faith... the gift of salvation...

How wonderful too, that we are given the gift of community, which by extension gives us the gift of an opportunity to continue the giving of mercy and grace and love; those gifts that keep on giving – because we choose to keep giving them.

So I pray that as we hear the invitation of God to come to the feast, that we would be willing to accept and receive the gifts of our heavenly host.
May we be careful to discern and reject those things which would keep us from the love of God.
May we be intentional as we accept the offer to come to God's table.
May we receive the grace that flows so freely on God's people, wearing it like a robe for all the world to see.