Destination Debt
Imagine you are invited to a friend’s wedding but it will be so expensive to attend that you would have to go into debt. Would you go anyway or would you bow out?
So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. - Matthew 5:23-25
Today’s reading is not about wedding debt, but when I read a story about a 30 year old woman who had to give up her home because she spent too much to attend 14 weddings and bachelorette parties, I tried to imagine how Jesus would have approached the situation.
He spoke about weddings in two of his parables and we know he attended at least one where he dealt with a touchy situation of the bridegroom running out of wine. Certainly he would have been empathetic.
In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus talks about setting things right with those who you have harmed or who have something against you.
Who would want to be in that situation?
Certainly the woman with all the friends and relatives getting married didn’t want to insult anyone by saying “No” but what about her?
It is a wonderful thing to find the right person and get married, and you want your day to be super special, but shouldn’t you think about those you will invite? Destination weddings are expensive, and who has the time for them?
Chances are turning down a friend’s invitation will cause long term problems. People get very touchy about such things, so maybe it isn’t so far fetched to imagine this as a source of discord between friends and relatives.
The message, though, is to work out our difference so we can come to the altar resolved of all of our issues.
Can we do it? Can we reconcile with everyone?
Probably not. But in trying, we set ourselves on the right course.
Now, the real problem is, how do you say “No”?
More to come...