Hi everyone,
I was at a Synod event all weekend, which welcomed clergy and lay people from across our province. It was nice to see so many familiar faces, some that I may not have seen in person from before the pandemic (which if you can believe it, started 5 years ago…).
But seeing so many of my colleagues after such a long time would inevitably lead to the inevitable… someone forgot my name. Sure, this person and I go way way back. Sure, I’m one of the only people that look like me. Sure, we were even wearing name tags. But of course, I would be mistaken for someone who… well… I’m not a huge fan of.
I don’t think my colleague meant to be offensive. I’m sure it was an honest mistake. I would be shocked if they even realised what they’ve done. It just felt… weird.
I didn’t like to be called someone I’m not. I didn’t like to be confused with someone I don’t get along with. I didn’t like feeling unseen and unknown.
But at the same time… it happens. It’s not like I knew all the names of the multitudes of people there, many of whom gave me friendly waves and even chatted with me. They had name tags too… but those darned things keep getting flipped around so all I saw were the blank backs of them.
I guess the point is that sometimes we can be offended by someone’s honest mistake. It happens. But all we can do is try to not make the same mistake… or at least have the grace to admit that we may have offended others as well.
Here are the readings for next week:
Joshua 5:9-12
Psalm 32
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
And a video of those readings being read:
It’s hard to come up with something new when you get a story as familiar as the Prodigal Son as it’s been called over the centuries and beyond. We often equate ourselves with that wayward boy who squandered his inheritance but was ultimately forgiven. We might sometimes try to emulate the attitude of the father in the parable, by looking out for the ways we can forgive and welcome. But not often do we see ourselves in the older brother, the one who did all the good and got nothing in return. Sometimes, but not often.
Whatever the case, I think this story, when paired with the other readings, is about seeing the other. Being sensitive to those around you and not expecting everything to be about you. Learning to “read the room,” so to speak.
See that older brother was offended that he wasn’t rewarded. He threw a lot of hate in his dad’s direction because he gave the younger son special treatment that wasn’t deserved. This brother, in all his responsible and obedient nature, was offended because his father’s generosity was given to someone else.
And there lies the problem. In that… everyone else is always the problem. The older brother blamed his dad for being kind and gracious. He blamed his younger brother for being selfish. But he never once looked at himself to see the source of his grief.
This attitude of not seeing others and blaming them for our problems is what I think Jesus is warning us against in this parable. The attitude of always thinking that we’re in the clear while everyone else needs to be on our level. The perception that we don’t need to change, it’s everyone else that does.
The fact is that none of us are perfect. We all make mistakes. We very likely offend way more than we are offended. But even in all that? God continues to forgive, love, and welcome into God’s abundant feast of grace and mercy.
Thanks be to God! Have a great week, everyone!