Pentecost 22 - Year A

Weeping and gnashing of teeth.  An image of anguish that Matthew the Gospel writer likes to use; an image that is very much before us this week as the world economy spirals down, seemingly out of control.  The media’s language, like Matthew’s, has taken on some commonality as well – these images, words have featured for over a week now – crashing, plummeting, downturning down, risk and riskier, beyond control, no control, out of control.

It is description of a world that very few of us understand, a virtual world really where there are no physical signs of danger like high winds, tidal waves or fire.  And yet seemingly the damage and trauma caused is as great, in a different way.  Instinctively we know this; for those who have experienced recessions and depressions in economies, the resultant qualities of life are awaited with fear and deep anxiety.  It is a self-perpetuating fear as well; the fear of what it all means keeps the spiral downward. 

A deep part of this fear is that we feel powerless, the victims of circumstances beyond our control.  And we begin to ask – who actually is in control?  How did it all start? How will it end?  Who knows these things? Who can fix these things?  Who actually is in control here?

Another question…is God in control?  We would instinctively say ‘yes’ – and then we look at the readings of today and begin to wonder.  Moses leaves the people on the exodus journey for just a while, up the mountain, talking with God, and those fickle people begin to look for another source of authority.  Good ole Aaron, Moses’ brother, who you perhaps would have thought had some idea of the ultimate vision, actually helps them build a golden calf.  They are disappointed with God so they look for other gods, other authorities.

God is then more than disappointed with them; God is furious, according to the story.  God wants to destroy in wrath and we are told that Moses helps God change God’s mind.  Moses reminds God of the story and the promise… who is in control here?  Hold onto this image; God wants to be alone…“now let me alone” so that he can be wrathful and vengeful.  Moses won’t comply; it seems that he reminds God that God can never be alone again after creating humanity in God’s own image.  So, God is never alone.

When we turn to today’s parable, with a king inviting guests to a banquet and getting refusal after refusal, we are also met with an image of a king, God, who cannot ultimately control who comes into the banquet.  Invited people refuse, so there is random gathering, of the good and the bad.  Even then the King gets upset beyond speech because someone is not wearing the wedding garment that would have been provided.  In this story, God seemingly gets God’s day of vengeance.  He orders that man to be thrown “into the outer darkeness” – and it seems there is no Moses at this point to intervene on the poor chap’s behalf.

But strongly the image that comes to us is…who is in control?  The guests won’t come, others are gathered in, and even then there is the opportunity to not do the right thing.  There is obviously a choice to put on the right gear for the banquet...isn’t our God omnipotent, all powerful?  Isn’t our God able to change and bring about anything God so wants?  Isn’t our God in ultimate, total control?

Just like the world economy, we are shaken up by the images and messages of today’s readings. Indeed, we are part of humanity that is always wondering about God and why things happen the way they do, that the bad and evil of the world still has mainstream airplay.   And yet, instinctively, we know we do belong to a truly omnipotent God – who then really is our God?  How are we to truly know our God?

It seems to me we have to return to the original question that led to this parable, and the two preceding it.  Jesus was asked, in the temple, by the chief priests and elders, “by what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”  It is actually the right question; it is the question that is continually asked of Jesus Christ (not just then, but throughout history), and it is the question that had to be finally asked for him to die.  It was the question that was the beginning of the end for Christ – and yet, for us who followed, the question that was the beginning of the beginning. 

It was the turning point question – because they did not ask – “who is in control here?”, or “are you saying you are more powerful than us?”  It was these men of the church, who were holding on tightly to the law and prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures, that not only recognised a new prophetic voice, but an authority beyond their experience.  Well, an authority they did not want to recognise – in Jesus’ response he makes it quite clear that they really do hold the answer to the question if only they would let go of their own tight, closed interpretation of who God really is.  By golly, you can see how and why Jesus upset the “authorities of the day”.  The authorities of the day…

The story of Moses changing God’s mind is a story to reveal that God has committed Godself to an everlasting, eternal relationship with the people.  It is a story to change the belief of those people that God is a wrathful God of justice.  It is a story to reveal a God of relationship, a God of love.  Moses demonstrates clearly what the Covenant is really about – “I am your God, you are my people”.  God is their authority; but it is the authority of relationship, grounded in love.  Jesus in the same way revealed, and continues to reveal, the love-base of that authority. 

It comes down to the real difference between ‘authority’ and ‘power’.  Jesus does not practice nor present a powerful God in the sense of control.  Jesus draws people to the ultimate authority of time and place, God.  In our knowing of that as the only truth, then we can claim the true power of God.  “All blessing and honour and glory and power” belong to God.  The wedding garment that is given, as gift, is the sealing of our own relationship with the God of that authority.  “through whom, with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory is yours, eternal God, now and for ever.”  The wedding garment is given to us in our baptism – and we have to respond to that gift, that recognition of the authority of our lives, by putting it on.

We have to wear God’s authority in the world and life we are part of – and again, it is not a response of power and judgement, nor a response that listens to the voices of the world and builds other authorities in our lives.  Paul writes to the church in Philippi with the attributes of the wedding garment:

Rejoice in the Lord always…whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise,  think about these things.  Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.”

And can you see that the wearing of the wedding garment, our response to God’s invitation into the banquet of life with Christ, is indeed done in banquet – with community, others who have also received the gift of invitation and have responded?  Paul’s ministry continually was to encourage the early church communities to support each other in Christ-ways of living…keep on doing those things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me.

We practise, live out, the relationship we are in – a relationship with our God.  The knowing of God comes through accepting that relationship – and for God also.  It is not an uneven relationship in control or power in that sense – this is the mind-boggling thing that Jesus told these parables about.  We, you and me and God, are in this together and we all have equality of relationship and indeed choice – if we are resting in the authority of God.  If we see our choices in life being made with God, then we are recognising that authority.

God did not cause the stock market to crash in the truth of humans creating, through choices, the world we are part of.  If we are making our decisions with God, then no matter what the world frameworks are and are becoming, God’s authority is being called through it.  In a sense, we should not be anxious about how that will look – but we do need to companion those who are affected in life, by whatever the circumstances.  That is building God right into the circumstance – and so we do pray today for those who are fearful of the looming recession, that their fear will turn to trust.

We are not to be afraid of the future with God, any future.   After 10 years of unprecedented economic global growth, the tide has turned as it has in the past.  Many would say it is a good thing for the healthy living of people – we have become too complacent about the “good life”, we have become high consumers of luxury, the gap between the rich and poor has grown exponentially.  It is proven, in times of hardship, that people need to actually reflect on life and make decisions that strengthen and character and resilience of humanity.  People have more time to be with people; that is, look to the things that revolve around life rather than money.

But whatever the future holds, we are to be assured that God’s authority has not diminished or been changed.  Nor has God’s relationship with us, God’s people and God’s world.   Amen.