Thanksgiving

Sometimes studying theology gets a bit annoying. I am constantly learning. I am trying on new glasses and seeing what the world looks like through them. This semester my imagination has been shaped by the Gospel of Luke, and it made Thanksgiving difficult.
Thursday morning I woke up rather early. I had planned on sleeping in, but my body doesn't do more than seven hours straight any more. I don't remember what exactly I did, mostly piddled around doing nothing. I drove and met a friend and together we went to the Ardieta's household. The time there was wonderful with friends. The whole day, however, I was a bit off.

Thanksgiving is probably the only Feast that most Americans attend. I don't know how often people celebrate. I am unsure how often we mark our calenders with events like Thanksgiving and Christmas. I am grateful for these holidays as they are incredibly important for the liturgy of my life. This year, however, I think I failed at the holiday.

The reason I put all this is because I could not help but shake Luke out of my head. In chapter 14 Jesus says this:

He said also to the one who had invited him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."(Luk 14:12-14 NRS)

Thanksgiving I went to a party thrown by friends. I am grateful for their hospitality, for they did not need to invite me at all. They are incredibly gracious, kind, and wonderful people. I wonder if instead, however, I had thrown a feast here, maybe things would have been better. Every day I pump gas I see a few homeless folk. Perhaps I could have followed Jesus' words.

Thanksgiving is a time for food, friends, fun, fellowship, and family. I wonder however, if that is how Jesus would celebrate his holidays. I love my family, but Jesus asked "Who is my mother, brother, or sister?"

Does God really demand so much?

See theologians don't leave anything alone. God breaks even into time honored holidays.

I may have failed here, I guess I ought to throw a feast later in the new year.

I hope you all had a happy thanksgiving!