ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 31, 2022
When I was keynoting a Men’s Event a number of years ago, I provided a rather simple illustration of Jesus’ command for us to love one another. A young man in attendance said something like, “If Jesus was so clear about his purpose being love, and if we are his followers yet we continue to fail when it comes to this purpose, why doesn’t he just give up on us? If I had this failure rate at work, I’d be fired.” It was some truth-telling in the form of a question. I’m pretty sure I muttered something about God being patient, seeing the bigger picture. Today, I would probably say something similar, but how often are we simply giving ourselves an excuse to fall short. It’s one thing if we do not have the skills or the knowledge. It is something very different to choose to do something other than love. I believe it was Benjamin Franklin who said, “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.” In Luke 14, Jesus tells a parable about a Banquet to which some of the invited guests made excuses for why they could not come. I don’t believe the metaphor of the Banquet is heaven, but is a way of living. It is where love is embodied in hospitality, kindness and acceptance. We are quick to make excuses, yet when we choose not to love, we are acting as an obstruction to others’ participation in the Banquet while also keeping ourselves from enjoying the experience. It almost sounds as if Jesus was suggesting in Luke 14 that it really isn’t the Banquet until every seat is filled.
May everything I say and do help to manifest the affirming and transformative nature your love, O God. By the strength of your Spirit, may my excuses be few and my faithfulness be a blessing. Amen.
