The Excess Baggage

Gospel: Matthew 10: 37-43

Our modern times are defined by the constant promotion of self.  Everywhere we are encouraged to promote our selves and live for our own self-interest - in politics, career, hobbies, and sadly even in our life of faith.  What is more, the ever present access to social media enables us to self-promote any time, any where, all the time.  Whether Gen-X or Gen-Z or whatever, we all belong to the me generation.

Yet the Gospel tells us just the opposite: it's not all about me; in fact, it's not about me at all.  The life of fulfillment is the life lived for others.  When we serve the needs of others and put them first, when we see Christ in all people and welcome them, then we are living the authentic life of faith to which we are called.  The excess baggage that causes us to judge others, that keeps us from entering the narrow gate is our ego, our life of self-interest.  When we put aside that baggage we are free to love others. 

As communities of faith we are challenged in this area as well.  More often than not congregations are more like country clubs where people are screened by our own standards before they are welcomed.  As long as people are just like us we are fine with admitting them to the table.  But Jesus ate with all, even his betrayer, denier, and doubter, with tax collector, prostitute, and Pharisee.  That is the radical welcome to which we are all called.