The best seat at the feast

They gave us uncertain looks, but when I said we were Coptic Orthodox we received a warm welcome.  In fact, I was asked to come up to the front of church and give a short word to the congregation about our purposes in the country, along with a hymn from the Coptic Church.   The congregation was then told that we would be the guests of honor at the Feast of St. John that was held after church, and we were urged to sit down in two chairs while most of the congregation stood and ate and made due with the surfaces available.

During that feast, a small band of dark-skinned Indians in threadbare clothes approached the church.  Most were kids.  They got as far as the gate and looked like they really thought they might get food, but then they were shooed away empty-handed.  I watched this from my seat of honor, with more food than I could even get down.  I didn’t do anything.

My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ?  For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while to the one who is poor you say, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and becomes judges with evil thoughts?  Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters.  Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?  But you have dishonored the poor.  Is it not the rich who oppress you?  Is it not they who drag you into court?  Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?  You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love you neighbor as yourself.”  But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

“When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friend or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid.  But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.  And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Before we get too judgmental, self-apply.  Is our church even located in a place where there are poor people across the street to invite inside?  Out of sight does not equal out of mind.