Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time 'A'

Saturday August 13, 2011

No favored nation status in the dominion of God

I think it’s fair to say that all of us have a few biases of one kind or other. Not all biases are bad nor are they prejudicial to someone else’s opinion. On the contrary, there are good biases that amount to strong convictions that do not exclude or dishonor the convictions of others. Authors, including the biblical writers wrote with a bias with the conviction that they were passing on the authentic revelation of God and the teaching of Jesus Christ.

My mother was the epitome of Catholic bias. Her response to a story of criminal conduct was inevitable: “I doubt that he is a Catholic.” Inferring that a Catholic could never be guilty of a crime. It was even more impossible if he were Irish and Catholic!

A positive bias is not prejudicial to the convictions of other people. A bias becomes negative when it excludes the possibility of new insights and the openness to deeper truths that emerge after careful study, reflection and dialogue.

An author now called ‘Deutero’ or ‘Third Isaiah’ wrote in the style of the original Isaiah in order to gain the attention of his audience. He addressed his message to the Jews returning to Israel after their long exile in Babylon. At this point they were ‘protectionist’ in their views and exclusionary in their practice. It was their bias that reform meant purification and a return to ancient practices and temple worship which in effect excluded foreigners who had occupied their homeland and even those foreigners who had joined them during the exile.

This author challenges the myopic thinking of the Jews, reminding them that true worship recognizes the inclusive nature of God’s love for all people. In essence, Isaiah states that God did not choose the Jews because they were special; they were special because God chose them. This difference is significant. Though Isaiah was a Jew, his positive bias was for the God whose justice dictated equality and equanimity. As long as foreigners were willing to recognize the sovereignty of God and not profane the Sabbath, they were to be admitted to temple worship. Astounding theology even for contemporary Jews and Christians.

Paul’s bias is obvious and quite frankly a bit irritating to Jews. His condescension toward them is a little crass. He protests his affection for them putting himself in the most favorable light and then goes on to chastise them for their rejection of the Messiah.

But he redeems himself in his brief statement, “The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” In essence, he is stating that God would not abandon them but that somehow they would come to the fullness of truth that all desire in a manner and time of God’s own choosing.

According to ‘Isaiah,’ God intended the Jews to reach out beyond their inflated sense of self to a largess of heart to the gentiles. In effect Paul became the ‘apostle’ to implement God’s favor to the gentiles. This is why Paul is called the “Apostle to the Gentiles.”

It is Matthew’s bias that Jesus is the ultimate bridge across the barriers that divide races and nations. The anecdote about the Canaanite woman is a bit shocking but humorous. Shocking because Jesus refers to the woman as a dog; humorous because the word that Matthew places on the lips of Jesus is ‘puppy dog,’ a house pet who gladly receives the scraps that fall from the table. The reference is revealing because it speaks of God’s mercy vis-à-vis the willingness of Jesus to move beyond the bias of the Jews who considered themselves on top of the mountain—indeed, on top of the world, at least the religious world. Matthew seems intent on presenting a Jesus who is willing to banter with those normally excluded from the Jewish table with an eye toward total acceptance. “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed in that instant.

In a world of private clubs, special memberships and passwords we are challenged by today’s readings to break down barriers of hate, breach walls of prejudice and remove barricades of exclusivity that keep people from our table. Our American table is still large enough to feed more empty mouths and hungry hearts. The scraps that fall from that table are sufficient to feed millions beyond our borders. We ought not allow fear of terrorist threats to feed our unhealthy biases and blind us to the good that exists in the hearts of those who yearn for the same freedoms and opportunities that we enjoy. We may need border protection but not border badgering. There is no favored nation status in the dominion of God.

A story: Jeremy Cohen and his family in Texas became the hosts of a rabbi from Moscow during the Christmas holidays. To treat the rabbi to a culinary experience probably not available to him in his own country, the Cohens took him to their favorite Chinese restaurant. After an enjoyable meal and pleasant conversation, the waiter brought the check and presented each person at the table with a small brass Christmas ornament as a complimentary gift.

Everyone laughed when Cohen’s father turned the ornament over and read the label, “Made in India.” Their laughter quickly subsided, however, when they realized that there were tears running down the rabbi’s cheeks. Cohen asked the rabbi if he were offended at having been given a gift for a Christian holiday. Smiling, the rabbi shook his head and answered, “Nyet.” I was shedding tears of joy to be in a such a wonderful country in which a Buddhist gives a Jew a Christmas gift made by a Hindu.” [Story, courtesy of Pat Sanchez, Celebration, Preaching Resources, Kansas City]

It’s a simple story but rich in meaning and reveals the bias of God who lets his rain fall on the just and unjust alike, that all men and women are equal in God’s sight and only with perseverance and openness to the Spirit will we shed our unhealthy biases and come to the full knowledge of the truth of God’s universal and indiscriminate love.
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Please click ‘Editorial – OpEd’ on the header for an interesting perspective on the abuse scandal.

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