Gospel: Matthew 15: 29-37
Today we find people bringing others to Jesus who are in need of healing: the crippled, blind, lame, deaf - any and all illnesses. And Jesus heals every single one of them without exception. There was no screening to see whether one was worthy or not. There were no bouncers at the door keeping away the unclean or alien. All were invited, and all received healing.
Afterward, Jesus realizes there is a huge crowd in a far away place. They are all in need of food. The disciples give what they have, and they are able to feed everyone amply. And again: all are fed without exception. There was no qualifying examination, no catechism quiz, no passing through a worthiness machine. All were provided bread simply because they were hungry and in need.
We might well consider this posture of Jesus and compare it with our own, both as an individual and in community life at church and society. Are our churches open to the care of all, or are they more like country clubs with stringent requirements for those who will benefit or not? In Advent we await a Savior who came to heal and nourish all people, and we are called in this season to imitate him in that work and mission.
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