Lowell Grisham is an Episcopal priest whose daily reflections on the scripture readings from the Book of Common Prayer are often thought provoking and inspiring. He also writes the daily devotions some months on explorefaith.org.
Today in his blog he reflects on the broader implications of Paul's affirmation (in Romans 11) that the chosen people's rejection of the Gospel opened a great door and opportunity for the Gentiles:
I guess it is always this way when God reaches out more broadly to bring grace. We see it in the church. Around 30 years ago our branch of the church acted to recognized God's presence through women in ordained leadership. Some of our people rejected that decision and still do. More recently, we have moved to recognize God's presence in our gay and lesbian members and their relationships. Some of our people reject those decisions.
What I found striking in the scripture text was in relation to what Paul said earlier, in Romans 10. Many in Israel could not accept the good news of justification by grace. Their belief in their own righteousness, or obstinacy and disobedience as Paul calls it, led to a spirit of stupor, making them blind and deaf to the new thing God was beginning to do among the Gentiles. Their table became a snare to them, a trap and a stumbling block.
How aptly this seems to describe those who would deny the gifts of grace today, those who would close their 'table' to modern-day Gentiles, whether it be GLBT people of faith, so-called 'illegal' immigrants, women bishops, or whoever. Not only does their table (or refusal of table to others) becoming a stumbling block for their own spiritual development, I believe it becomes a stumbling block for the world. People look at the church and often see a room full of private, sparsely furnished tables, not realizing that God's banquet table is abundant and open to all.
It's easy for people like me who live on the margins to remain caught up in anger or frustration with those Christians who refuse to see or hear what God is doing in my world, and who refuse to grant me a place at 'their' table. But it's refreshing to be always and often reminded of the "much greater riches" Paul promises. Lowell says,
As Paul is anguished for the separation of the Christian movement from his own source -- "I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin" -- so we are anguished by the conflicts and divisions the church lives with. Like Paul, we can rejoice at the wider grace of God being experienced by those who were once excluded. Like Paul we can also anticipate the reconciliation and reunion of those who have rejected this stage in God's work of salvation. The expectation is for full inclusion. Jew, Gentile; male, female; gay, straight.
Today is the deadline for an essay due for one of my courses. I've written two pages of a 10-15 page reflection paper. Not so good I suppose. I've been under a lot of pressure lately and have found it hard to concentrate on much more than my nine-to-five job. I'm not going to make the deadline which means I'm not going to get credit for my courses. At least not this year.