"My friend..."

Last Sunday's Gospel reading had me a little stumped - not like these stories are new, but sometimes you start second guessing something you've heard a hundred times over. Really, what is up with the one guy being called out? 

Clearly the wedding feast is the Eucharistic meal. Who's invited first? Israel, especially the priests and elders. They reject the invitation (as we all do, just to be clear on that). In a sense, the Jewish rejection of Jesus is necessary so that the Gentiles are invited. Thus, the invitation is extended to all, never withdrawn. Still, what's up with the one guy being called out?  

The king said to him, 'My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?'

Ahhh... that word, "friend." Sometimes Jesus calls his followers "friends" and that's a good thing. But I think when you're having a literal "come to Jesus" talk mano-a-mano, maybe you don't want to hear that word. 

Jesus answered him, “Friend, do what you have come for.”

No parable can be a perfect mirror, but this is setting the stage. Jesus wasn't concerned about the outer garment, but his audience was, and naturally he's sowing the seed to recall the sacrifice that God desires. 

I'm sure much more can be said, but I'll leave it there for now. 

Explain the Old Testament to me like a five year old

I picked up one of these children's Catholic Bibles early this year because we had finished reading the short Bibles that are made for toddlers and our oldest (actually six years old) wanted to read the "real" Bible. He's not ready for that, so I found a more thorough version thats more comprehensive that most Bibles for kids, though still an abbreviated version. 

Unfortunately I wouldn't recommend this particular Bible, but we're rolling with it. Reading through the Old Testament with a curious toddler is quite a spiritual exercise. We just finished the Old Testament. I think you gain a better perspective of the "big picture" story of salvation by reading a kids' Bible, at least if you see how God is gradually working to mold people to be like him. It's a terribly long process. I mean, eventually we come to a place where Gentile rulers profess belief in the God of Israel - and proceed to persecute pagans in their lands.  

We just finished the Old Testament and talked about this period of about 400 years between the last book of the Old Testament and Christ. We should be able to finish around year end. I think our next book will either be The Wilderking Trilogy (about David as a boy) or a book in that style about Daniel and his companions, if I can find a good one! 

 

The Death of Saint Francis of Assisi - Jose Camaron Boronat