Readings for the Day:
Sermon:
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Original Manuscript:
Jesus, in today's Gospel, faces the difficultly of being expected to act in a certain way. Jesus is a Holy Man, and Holy Men are expected to austere and associate with proper people. You wouldn't expect such a person to associate with "riff raff" or to be a "foodie", and people didn't expect that kind of thing from Jesus either.
But Jesus didn't do what was expected of Him, but what He was supposed to do. Jesus wasn't there to make the "proper folks" who knew how to behave feel better about themselves you hanging out with them. Jesus was there to help heal those who were broken and to speak to those who were not able to otherwise hear His voice. Arguable, that includes everyone who ever lived, not just those society looks down on like tax collectors and sinners.
Jesus also didn't fast, but enjoyed having meals with others. Jesus' response to those who question Him about His behavior is to say that when you have the bridegroom, or rather in this case the Messiah, in your midst, it is appropriate to celebrate, not to mourn. Jesus is acting in an appropriate manner for His person and station here, it's just not the way everyone else expected Him to act.
In our own actions, we are called to emulate Jesus. We are called to act not as others expect us to, but instead in whatever way that is appropriate for us. We all have our roles and gifts that God has given us, so there is no "one size fits all" means of appropriate action. The means in which we learn the ways we are called to be and behave in the world are through listening to the Lord. Scripture is an effective tool to listen to God, as are other tools such as retreat and spiritual direction, as those of us who have used these methods well know.
We are also called, in emulating Jesus, to embrace the joys of living. That doesn't mean that we are called to be gluttons, for, in spite of what Jesus' critics would have said, that is not what Jesus was. We are called, though, to find those things that bring us together and give us joy in this life, giving thanks to God always for such gifts. We are called to be responsible and we are called to be open and sharing.
Most of all, we are called to listen in order that we might best do the work God has given us to do. That's all we can ask for, and that's all that can ever be asked of us.