In ancient times, people lived mostly in fear of the
gods. When lighting and thunder, storms and chaos fell from the skies, they
believed it was the anger and wrath of the gods punishing them for their
offences against the gods. Even the Israelites, who know of the one and only
God, still perceived God as sending punishments upon the people for their sins.
It was also believed by the ancients that those with
wealth and power and privilege among the people were receiving the favour of
the gods. The poor were of no interest to the gods, and were left on their own,
victims of whatever fate should befall them.
Jesus brings a new vision of God. God is a loving Father
for all people. God is not the God of fire and brimstone, he is their loving
and merciful Father. God desires not death and destruction, rather life for
every person. Perhaps, most radical of all Jesus’ revelations, is the
revelation that the poor and broken, the weak and the powerless, yes and above
all - the sinner, were first on the list of those the Father has sent Jesus to
call.
So in today’s gospel we have an example of Jesus bringing
this good news to the people by using an example from their own daily
experience; a wedding feast. Here Jesus demonstrates that the way they think is
not the way God thinks and acts. A wedding celebration was of highest
importance to the people. So when they planned a wedding and prepared a guest
list of those to be invited, seating was of high importance. Those thought of
most highly would be given the places of privilege. But in the wedding feast of
heaven, the least important, the least worthy are given priority, because no
one is to be left off the list.
In the parable of the lost sheep, Jesus makes it plain
and clear; I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in
heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who
do not need to repent. Lk. 15:7
This is what is at the heart of this Year of Mercy. It is
not to proclaim a “get-out-of-jail-free-year”. The need for repentance has never been greater
than it is today. Rather, Pope Francis wants us to stop judging one another. We
are not to be making list of those we deem not worthy of our concern. We are to
consider those who need to be on our list; on our list of those to pray for, those
to reach out to, those with whom we need to be reconciled. Let us not forget,
we all are sinners too, we are not on God’s mercy list because we are so holy
and wonderful.
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and
sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of
the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who
are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the
cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we
were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God,
who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in
transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him
in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might
show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in
Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is
not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can
boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:1
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