PARTIAL
Today’s first reading [James 2:1-9] - the reading for this 6th Thursday in Ordinary Time - triggers the topic of partiality. [1]
Fill in the blank: I’m partial to _______________.
Starbucks, summers, butter almond ice cream, lacrosse, mornings ….
If I limited the blank to people, who would make our list?
Today’s first reading begins: “Show no partiality!”
James, the writer of today’s letter, spotted something that happens in many churches - many schools - many teams - many places of work: partiality.
In his church James must have seen someone come in with gold rings and things and fancy clothes - and the ushers said - or the leader said, “Come right up here Mr. Bo Jangles. We have a nice seat for you up front.” Then in comes a poor person with shabby clothes and he is told to “Stand back there!” or “Sit at my feet.”
That’s partiality.
You know the saying, “In the land of the blind, the one eyed person is king or queen.”
If we were all living in the land of the blind, how would we show partiality? Would it be by accent? Speech? The sound of our voice?
If we were all deaf, dumb and blind, how would we show partiality?
Would it be scent? Would it be touch? Weight? Height?
If you’ve watched Animal Channel you know about Alpha Males. You know how one animal takes over. So when we talk about animals, we talk about partiality.
If you’ve watched Discovery Channel you know about the dominant female monkey in a cage - the one who is queen - has shoulders thrown back - while the other female monkeys hunch a bit in submission.
If you read the Gospels you know all the sheep are important - even the lost one - the one out of communion with the rest. [2]
The title of my homily is, “I’m partial!”
Humans flaunt their looks, their wealthy, their gold, their marks, their cars, their athleticism, their talents - to show they are in the upper part of humanity.
Jesus didn’t like this separation stuff - this pedestal stuff - this non-communion stuff.
At times I hear people wanting to block communion - block union - in the community of churchgoers.
The follower of Jesus works on being open to all people - saints and sinners - who’s who? - being there for all people - serving all - washing feet - and greeting all - trying not to be partial or to show partiality.
God is not partial.
All are God’s creations.
For some it doesn’t seem to work that way.
Just listen to people. God is not fair. Life is not fair. Why am I so short?
Why does so and so have such and such?
Then there is paradox. The scriptures seem to say the poor are God’s favorites. The Psalm response for today is: “The Lord hears the cries of the poor!” [3]
The poor say, “You’re kidding God. You’re kidding.”
Then there are the paradoxes. Of course we are partial to the members of our own families.
Of course we are partial to our own kind.
Of course we are partial to those we’re comfortable with.
Of course we are partial to those our own age.
Of course we play the game. You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.
We know what our teachers want - what answers they want us to give - what behavior they want to see.
People do the same thing to each other all around the world. “Whatever you want boss!”
Hey it’s the Golden Rule isn’t it.
Yet the call - the message - the hope is still there: to be impartial.
The Christian reaches out to all people.
The Christian tries to learn the language and skills of reaching out to all people.
Jesus pushed this and look where it got him.
He says the cross is what’s going to happen in Jerusalem - and Peter takes Jesus aside and says, “Are you crazy?”
And Jesus - who chose Peter - who made Peter his key guy - who gave Peter the keys to the kingdom says to Peter: "Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."
Keep on being part of Jesus - who brings us into communion with the Father and the Spirit. To abide - to travel with Jesus - to our Jerusalem - and we’ll be learning these things. It’s called “discipleship” - not a bad ship to be on.
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[1] This was a homily for our St. Mary's High School young people this morning over at Marian Hall.
[2] Read Luke 15
[3] Read Psalm 34: 2-7
