Thursday, October 13, 2005
Devote from Sojourners: Golden Parties
Golden Parties
Exodus 32:1-14; Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23; Philippians 4:1-9; Matthew 22:1-14"It appears that Ms. (Paris) Hilton’s blond ambition knows no bounds," says a May 2 article in The New York Times. "She commands anywhere from $150,000 to $200,000 to appear at a party for 20 minutes. ‘If it’s in Japan I get more,’ she said.
"Why would the Israelites’ worship of the golden calf in Exodus 32 seem bizarre to us? We get daily updates on the latest golden supermodel or partygoer. The worship of the self has a "rich" tradition. Moses interceded to get God to reconsider allowing disaster to befall an unfaithful people (Exodus 32:11-14). Who will speak for us?"They made a calf at Horeb," remembers the psalmist, "and worshiped a cast image" (Psalm 106:19).
This kind of idolatry abuses the poor who struggle for basic needs. But, the psalmist reminds us, there is another way: "Happy are those who observe justice."At God’s banquet, the key word is everyone. Paul says, "Let your gentleness be known to everyone" (Philippians 4:5).
In the gospel reading, Jesus says, "Go therefore into the main streets and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet" (Matthew 22:9).In that party called "the kingdom of heaven," many are called—the mentally challenged and the Oxford scholars, the unemployed and the Paris Hiltons. "Many are called, but few are chosen," Jesus says (Matthew 22:14). The nice part: We invite everyone and leave the choosing to God.
Boundaries and Crossings. by Robert Roth. Sojourners Magazine, September/October 2005 (Vol. 34, No. 9, pp. 48-49). Living the Word.
Exodus 32:1-14; Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23; Philippians 4:1-9; Matthew 22:1-14"It appears that Ms. (Paris) Hilton’s blond ambition knows no bounds," says a May 2 article in The New York Times. "She commands anywhere from $150,000 to $200,000 to appear at a party for 20 minutes. ‘If it’s in Japan I get more,’ she said.
"Why would the Israelites’ worship of the golden calf in Exodus 32 seem bizarre to us? We get daily updates on the latest golden supermodel or partygoer. The worship of the self has a "rich" tradition. Moses interceded to get God to reconsider allowing disaster to befall an unfaithful people (Exodus 32:11-14). Who will speak for us?"They made a calf at Horeb," remembers the psalmist, "and worshiped a cast image" (Psalm 106:19).
This kind of idolatry abuses the poor who struggle for basic needs. But, the psalmist reminds us, there is another way: "Happy are those who observe justice."At God’s banquet, the key word is everyone. Paul says, "Let your gentleness be known to everyone" (Philippians 4:5).
In the gospel reading, Jesus says, "Go therefore into the main streets and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet" (Matthew 22:9).In that party called "the kingdom of heaven," many are called—the mentally challenged and the Oxford scholars, the unemployed and the Paris Hiltons. "Many are called, but few are chosen," Jesus says (Matthew 22:14). The nice part: We invite everyone and leave the choosing to God.
Boundaries and Crossings. by Robert Roth. Sojourners Magazine, September/October 2005 (Vol. 34, No. 9, pp. 48-49). Living the Word.
# posted by ErinW @ 10:02 AM 
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