The challenge of racism
One of my favorites from Broadway was a show called
"Avenue Q," a bawdy adult musical comedy with nearly life-sized
puppets.
In "Avenue
Q" there is a song called "Everyone's A Little Bit
Racist." The song's words include these:
"Everyone's a little bit racist sometimes.
Doesn't mean we go around committing hate crimes.
Look around and you will find no one's really color
blind.
Maybe it's a fact we all should face
Everyone makes judgments based on race."
There is no excuse for racism of any kind.
Our gospel lesson today is very clear on this
issue:
God's heavenly banquet is open to all and if we attend
and except that everyone at this banquet will look like us, we will be very
disappointed.
Everyone's a little bit racist.
There's much truth in that not so silly song.
And it all drives
me back to the communion table which all Christians share.
When I was in Rome, I went to a church on Sunday which
had a mix of people from all over the world..
As this service began, I wondered why we should even
share Holy Communion, since community among our group was almost non-existent.
As we were preparing for communion, each of us was
invited to pray the Lord's Prayer in our own language.
There, finally, in a cacophony of languages and sounds,
we found our unity in Jesus Christ, in prayer and then in Christ's Holy Supper.
It was truly a Pentecost moment of unity in Our Lord in
the midst of diversity in much else.
And that is how Christians come to the communion table
this day or anytime we celebrate the sacrament of Eucharist.
Still broken people to be sure.
A little bit or even more than a little bit racist.
Wanting to welcome others, but often not knowing how.
Sometimes fearful, sometimes hopeful.
Sometimes hurting, sometimes confident.
Sometimes bored, sometimes excited.
Bringing all our hopes and fears with us.
And all still welcome at God's table of grace today and
every Sunday.
All still loved and forgiven by our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ.
And to that all we can say is thanks be to God!
O God, help us to be welcoming people.
Help us to welcome all people at your table.
Help us to understand that your table, your table of
grace and love is open and welcoming to everyone—
those a lot like us and those who are very different than
us are all welcome at your table
Amen.
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