A TASTE OF THE KINGDOM

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily or reflection for this 31^st Tuesday in Ordinary Time is: “A Taste of the Kingdom.”

LIKE BEING IN A SUPERMARKET ….

At times - Jesus is like those folks in Giant or Safeway - Wegmans or Grauls - who stand there - usually in the back section of the supermarket - and they have a tray of tasty delights - samples - on aluminum foil. “Want to try one!”

It’s a bite of beef wrapped in bacon - with a special sauce - or a new cookie - or caramel covered popcorn or what have you. Try it! You’ll like it.

Try it and buy it.

JESUS - TRY IT

Jesus stands there inviting folks to try the Kingdom. Try loving your enemies. Try not judging - or throwing rocks. Try going the extra mile. Try turning the other cheek. Try settling differences while on the way with others - especially those we don’t like. It’s easy to forgive those we get along with.

Jesus gives us a taste of the Kingdom. Its entrance has a narrow door - and most seem to  take the broad way. 

Jesus is saying, “Take a peek. Sneak into the Kingdom. See yourself walking in discipleship with Jesus. Feel the change in your face skin - with a neat smile - an ease that surprises you - that makes you feel beautiful inwardly and outwardly.”

Taste and see.

TODAY’S FIRST READING: ROMANS 12: 5B-16B

Paul tells us in today’s first reading - “Hey, even though we’re many - we’re one.   We’re one body - even though we are so, so diverse. Don’t think division. Think unity.

Paul tells us we don’t have to have it all - do it all. We can work together and watch how that works - how that floats - how that tastes. It really does. Notice some are good at challenging - being prophetic - some are good at teaching - some are good at ministry - some are diligent -  some are very generous - some are great for bringing mercy into messy situations - some are great as cheerleaders.

Taste Paul’s list of important ingredients for the human story: hospitality, providing hope, joy and generosity. And did you notice that last one: “Have the same regard for one another; do not be haughty [i.e., the high and the mighty] but associate with the lowly”?

But notice when we hear today’s gospel - spot that Jesus knows the human tendency to make excuses. We think those 3 little words that block and stop so many new life steps:  “But what if ….?”

There is something in us that doesn’t want to taste the Kingdom of God - that doesn’t want to really be in the Kingdom. 

The block might be laziness, fear, suspecting there’s no fun - it’s all bleak - if we seek the Kingdom of God.

TODAY’S GOSPEL - LUKE 14:15-24 - EXCUSES, EXCUSES

So we make the excuses - excuses - excuses.  In today's gospel, that’s what Jesus is telling us that some people do. 

So Jesus says, okay, I’ll call others into the kingdom.

CONCLUSION

Here’s a mind twisting thought. I used to think that the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame - whom Jesus calls next - were others. Then  I realized it’s me. Jesus is calling me: poor, crippled, blind and lame brained, excuse making, me.

Get a taste of that reverse thinking of Jesus. 

We’re it. Here we are in this banquet hall called “a church”. 

See Mass as a banquet, a meal, a gathering of lots of folks - who are here to be strengthened by our daily bread - served by some folks up here in the back of the store. Then all go forth out the front door of this church - and go back into our world - working together to make the Kingdom come. Amen.