August 17, 20th Sunday in OT, Cycle A

God’s aggravating universalism is the subject of all three readings, this weekend. On the one hand, we like a God who loves everybody. On the other hand, we like a God who “gets even” with those who don’t follow His teachings, and frankly, we would like Him to “draw some clear lines in the sand,” so that the “good” (we) are clearly distinguished from the “bad” (them.) Isaiah subverts that desire, and lets us know that God is the Lord of all, and finds a way to welcome all. Paul, says, something to the effect: you “Gentiles” are not better than the Jews you aren’t getting along with, nor are they “better” than you; so, be nice! And the Gospel is a remarkable account of Jesus, Himself, wrestling with the universalism demanded of Him–whether to heighten the suspense and thus teach His disciples more profoundly, as the early saints thought, or whether He, Himself, had to “grow,” too, as some modern commentators feel. One way or the other, God is bigger than we want Him to be, and His love more broad than we are comfortable with. (These readings should be “the” readings for all priestly and episcopal ordinations and all solemn religious professions! If those who lead don’t remember this truth, and try to own it, how shall the rest of us do so?)