Jesus was at it again, in both yesterday’s and today’s gospel passages. Despite knowing perfectly well that it went against the norm, Jesus cured people who were considered “less than”. The gospels are full of such examples of Jesus and the “less thans”: the sick, the poor, sinners, foreigners, women, children… you name the category, Jesus kept creating welcoming space for them. What a scandal!
Would that we, people of the Eucharist, create such scandal of welcome on a regular basis. In Eucharist, we keep returning to the table of the One who welcomed to the point of his own condemnation and execution. Perhaps we keep returning to be fed by his broken body and his poured-out blood, that we may have the strength to live such scandalous behavior too. Perhaps we keep listening to these gospel passages day after day to hear the call to be more fully who we really are: the Body of this welcoming Christ.
Who is considered “less than” in my tiny part of the world? In this time of pandemic and polarization, how have I opened welcoming space for them? In this time of COVID-induced isolation, what safe-for-all forms of contact have I grown stronger in using to be more welcoming? In this time of polarization, what guidance about communication and inclusion has helped me be more welcoming? What scandalous welcoming behavior might I be accused of as I have I been living my faith?