WwtW: God beckons us all to come feast at His table

Ordinary Time Year C, Week 21.

Isaiah 66:18-21

Context.           This reading comes from part of the book of Isaiah called “Third Isaiah.”  It comes from a time very soon after the end of the Babylonian Exile.  The people have returned to their land after two or three generations of exile in Babylon.  They are rebuilding physically, structurally and emotionally, and there’s dispute about how best to do this, including about how involved non-Israelites can be.  The dominant message is of hope and comfort, but the author also has a vision for how the People are to live in the Restored Land.

Interpretation. The first line is the lectionary editor’s addition and the second is a guess at a translation from a Hebrew text which has probably been messed up by a scribe at some point.  The central (and shocking!) message is what follows: people from all the ends of the earth (Spain, Asia, Africa, Greece) will flock to God’s mountain on a pilgrimage to encounter God’s glory.  Jerusalem is a herald to the world of glad tidings (40:11).  Some non-Israelites will even be made priests!  The early Church would understand these promises as fulfilled in its mission to the Gentiles and in the Eucharist, the glorious banquet to which we can all come.

Luke 13:22-30

Context.           We continue Jesus’ long journey to Jerusalem (9:51-19:48; Wks 13-31), but start a new section which is an extended response to the question “who will be saved?”  (13:10-17:10; Wks 21-27).  He is concerned to form community and set boundaries, but in a completely topsy-turvy way that will confound any sense of privilege.  Throughout, the door of discipleship remains open, even to the Pharisees.  We don’t read the first story of this section, the healing of a woman on the Sabbath.

Interpretation. Approach to the heavenly banquet is available to all, but the door must be entered.  There is no salvation by heritage or association.  The question asked is “are only a few being saved?” – it is a process going on now and it is possible to wait too long to respond.  Many are responding now and a list of peoples from all directions will be shown responding to Jesus most explicitly in Acts, at the time of the Pentecost.  Jesus’ answer turns a theological question into a personal challenge.

Questions

1.      What images do you associate with heaven?

2.      Where do we get glimpses of that on earth?

3.      How can we best invite others to those glimpses?