Today’s Readings: Psalm 63; Genesis 42:29-38; Luke 5:27-39; Acts 19:1-7; Psalm 111
As someone whose call is to be a bridge-builder between individuals and communities, I’ve learned at least one thing about human beings: virtually all human beings have someone (or some group) that they consider to be “the other” – someone (or some group) who the person feels is either unworthy or beyond redemption. For Republicans, it’s someone like Bill Clinton; for Democrats, it’s someone like George Bush. For Evangelicals, it’s someone like Bishop John Shelby Spong; for Progressives, it’s someone like James Dobson. I could go on and on with this list, but I think you get the point. The question for most of us isn’t, “Is there someone (or some group) I look down upon?” The real question is, “Who is that someone (or group) I look down upon?” This reality was raised for me once again by today’s Gospel reading from Luke. In that passage we are told that as Jesus went out, he had the audacity to invite someone who was despised by all segments of the community – Levi, a tax collector. Tax collectors were so despised that even the religious authorities of the day felt comfortable calling them crooks and sinners. The positive piece of the story was that once the individuals in the crowd got their biases out into the open, Jesus was free to confront that bias head on and make his case for why that bias was wrong. Is there someone (or some group) in your life that plays the role of tax collector for you – someone (or some group) who you would feel empowered to publicly rail against? If so, the first step is to get over your denial (which often takes the form of self-righteous judgment – as in “I may look down on so-and-so but they deserve it…”) and own up to your bias. Once you do that, God will be free to begin working with you in that area. Who knows? Before long you might just be breaking bread with someone who used to represent “the other” to you. Til next time…
As someone whose call is to be a bridge-builder between individuals and communities, I’ve learned at least one thing about human beings: virtually all human beings have someone (or some group) that they consider to be “the other” – someone (or some group) who the person feels is either unworthy or beyond redemption. For Republicans, it’s someone like Bill Clinton; for Democrats, it’s someone like George Bush. For Evangelicals, it’s someone like Bishop John Shelby Spong; for Progressives, it’s someone like James Dobson. I could go on and on with this list, but I think you get the point. The question for most of us isn’t, “Is there someone (or some group) I look down upon?” The real question is, “Who is that someone (or group) I look down upon?” This reality was raised for me once again by today’s Gospel reading from Luke. In that passage we are told that as Jesus went out, he had the audacity to invite someone who was despised by all segments of the community – Levi, a tax collector. Tax collectors were so despised that even the religious authorities of the day felt comfortable calling them crooks and sinners. The positive piece of the story was that once the individuals in the crowd got their biases out into the open, Jesus was free to confront that bias head on and make his case for why that bias was wrong. Is there someone (or some group) in your life that plays the role of tax collector for you – someone (or some group) who you would feel empowered to publicly rail against? If so, the first step is to get over your denial (which often takes the form of self-righteous judgment – as in “I may look down on so-and-so but they deserve it…”) and own up to your bias. Once you do that, God will be free to begin working with you in that area. Who knows? Before long you might just be breaking bread with someone who used to represent “the other” to you. Til next time…
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