eleven::twentysix

Forgive me, those who regularly read these words, for being unfaithful this past week and failing to write. But, seeing that it is Monday, nearly now has been a Monday, I do have a homily to offer... Hopefully I will be better this week with writing poems.

I proceed into this homily with caution. It feels rather natural to me to reflect up today's readings from a socially provocative perspective. After all, here are four children of Israel refusing the provisions of the empire. Certainly the church today has something to learn from such a story. I'd also like to look at the implications of the Gospel reading and say something about social inequality. After all, aren't widows suppose to be provided for by the community, not taken for all they're worth, as one reading of the incident may tell?

But I proceed with caution because the words spoken now are to be used to direct us to the table. As such, it would probably be best to not the significance of eating in the reading from Daniel. What the children of Israel ate and how they ate defined them. As captives in the world of the Chaldeans, food and faith maintained their identity. In keeping true to their God, they were given knowledge and proficiency even in the ways of the Chaldeans and found favor with Nebuchadnezzar.

What then with us? We may not be so obviously in a foreign land as Daniel and his friends, but like them are we to called to a particular diet? It seems so. Literally, we are called to eat and drink particular food and drink. Further, we recognize in the Eucharistic celebration that it is God that provides the bread and wine, it is God that makes them holy, the Body and Blood of Christ.

And now it might be appropriate to make mention of the subversive nature of this meal. Like the children of Israel, we too are offered imperial food which has the potential to defile us. According to the underwriting political philosophies and ideologies of our socio-cultural-economic setting, we are "entitled" to seek to feast upon power, the ultimate liberal happiness. Such is the story we snacked on in our youth, whether or not we knew what we were tasting. But the meal God calls us to is one that in partaking of we proclaim the death of Christ. We feast to remember that we are called not to power, but to a sacrificial, self-giving way of life. This remembrance, this knowledge, if you will, also proclaims the resurrection, God's favor. Refusing the world's provision does not necessitate a total falling out of favor with the world (though it is likely those that seek power will hate us). After all, we are prepared by this diet of bread and wine to be participants in God's act of redeeming all the creation. It is with this meal and as the children of God who continue the self-giving ministry of Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit that subversive and redemptive action is carried and lived out.

(Daniel 1:1-6, 8-20, Daniel 3:52-56, Luke 21:1-4)