The Kingdom of Vegetania was holding a tournament to name the “vegetable of the kingdom.” After a series of rounds eliminated one vegetable after another – broccoli, gone; asparagus, no way — the finalist were chosen: carrots and peas. As they were preparing for the final competition, no sooner had the king take his seat on the throne when he said. “I declare carrots the winner.” The organizers were aghast – what about the competition, the game, the contest. The king said, “I like carrots best and that settles it. Are you questioning what I say?” Oh no, sire, they answered, “We respect what you say. All we are saying is: give peas a chance.” After the groans have died down there is a point to this story. Like the king we all have our preferences and our prejudices. At times those preferences can be harmful to our spiritual lives. Take the Pharisees and scribes in St. Luke’s gospel. They were prejudiced against the tax collectors and sinners who were flocking to Jesus. They did not think such people belonged. Jesus tells three parables to illustrate that God does not have any prejudices, any pre-conditions on who belongs. All are welcome.
In the gospel today the opening line stands out: “Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus.” Instead of feeling judged or excluded those seemingly on the periphery were attracted to Jesus, they wanted to be in his presence. Contrast that with the situation of the Church today. Instead of drawing near, people are falling away. One-third of those who were raised Catholic have left the church. There are four time as many people leaving the Church as entering. Half of the Millennial generation say they have no religion. So what did Jesus have that the Church seems to be missing nowadays? Why would the tax collectors and sinners want to listen to Jesus? Unfortunately there was no Gallup poll in first century Palestine to help us to know how they would answer that question. So we can only answer the question for ourselves: what is there about Jesus that attracts us, that keeps us coming to Church each Sunday? How can we convey that to our friends and relatives who are missing having Jesus in their lives? Here is one man’s list.
Like the tax collectors and sinners I draw near to Jesus because he accepts me just as I am. There aren’t any minor league followers of Jesus who are working their way through A to double A to triple A just so they can be worthy to be a disciple. No, from the moment you heed the message of Jesus you’re in the big leagues. Just look at his chosen twelve – besides being generally clueless, one denied, another betrayed, the rest abandoned. But they were all accepted just as they were, even when they didn’t quite get it. I listen to Jesus because he lets me know that right now, even as a mess, I am a blessed child of God.
I draw near to Jesus because he has promised to stay with me through thick and through thicker. As the song from Carousel puts it, “you’ll never walk alone.” We can at times feel lost and confused about what is happening. Knowing that Jesus is by my side in good times and in bad, sometimes even carrying me in the worst of times, enables me to make it. He even comes looking for me when I am a lost sheep. What a friend we have in Jesus.
I draw near to Jesus because he shows me that we all belong together as one family, the family of God. In a world characterized by war and division, by partisan politics and tribal loyalties, by haves and have nots, Jesus shows another way. He shows us that all that we think as dividing us in fact enriches us. The differences of race and language and culture and nationality are different pieces, tessera, in the mosaic of life – and the more varied the pieces the more beautiful the picture. Because of Jesus I see a family resemblance in everyone I meet and rejoice that we can live together in harmony.
I draw near to Jesus because he feeds me. He was criticized during his public ministry for holding chicken dinners with all the trimmings for sinners. His final act before suffering and death was a dinner party with his chosen friends. While at that dinner he gave them the gift of the Eucharist so that he could continue to feed us with his love and real presence. What a privilege to be invited to his banqueting table every Sunday.
I draw near to Jesus since he shows us how to live a happy life. Instead of running after success or money or power Jesus demonstrates that a life of care and compassion and forgiveness and generosity provides the true path to happiness. Jesus teaches when we stop looking out for ourselves and instead see that we are meant to be together we can create a world where everyone can live in peace and joy.
I draw near to Jesus because he provides me hope beyond what we see in this world. When are confronting loss and grief we can feel overwhelmed. How will we make it when we have to watch someone we love slowly fade from before our eyes, when we have to go on when they are taken from us? Jesus tells us that there is a new, eternal life before us. St. Paul puts it, “If our lives are limited to this world only we are the most to be pitied.” Jesus gives us the blessed assurance that in the end all will be well, all manner of things will be well.
I draw near to Jesus, quite simply, because he loves me. The Bible puts it: love consists in this, not that we have loved God but that God has loved us. The children’s song goes, “Oh how I love Jesus because he first loved me.” At baptism we were named and claimed just as Jesus was during his baptism – behold my beloved child. All you need is love – and that is what Jesus gives us without cost or condition. That’s why I draw near, that’s why I listen to him, that’s why I am here today. That’s my list. What would be on yours?
