Good and Bad

Matthew 22:10 - "Those slaves went into the streets and gathered all whom they found, the good and the bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests."

Not only does God call everyone, but she also makes no distinction between good and bad. Everyone is invited. But what are our criteria for 'good' and 'bad.'? Does someone who runs a red light or speeds down the expressway count as 'bad?' How bad does one have to be to be considered 'bad?' Does it matter whether the person is a woman? Black person? Mexican? disabled? on welfare or SSDI? LGBTQ?

Or flip the question - what does it take to be considered 'good?' Can someone run a red light and still make the cut? Or does the person have to be better than, say, we are? more generous with their time, talents, and treasure? Does it matter whether the person is a woman? Black person? Mexican? disabled? on welfare or SSDI? LGBTQ?

Do these questions make you feel uncomfortable? They do me, because that's not the best way to think about people. Focusing on one trait without seeing the entirety of the person is harmful, especially if that trait is one we don't like or share. For example, focusing on someone's sexuality or whether or not they've had an abortion. We are all mixtures of good and bad. Labeling ourselves or others puts people in a box. Once we do that, we no longer need to be curious about them. We can commune with or ignore them accordingly.

This tendency is especially pernicious in politics in America. We are a divided nation and have been since the Civil War - actually, since our beginning. In fact, some white people are still fighting the Civil War; still trying to keep "those people" from enjoying the dignity, pleasures, wealth, and power we enjoy. We do this using various labels, but those labels are only a flimsy cover for our racism, sexism, misogyny, ableism, genderism, heteronormativity. By labeling ourselves as 'good' and others as somehow 'bad,' we not only dehumanize ourselves, we dehumanize everyone. Once we dehumanize others by reducing their complexity as people to one 'defining trait,' it becomes easier to refuse them the rights that we enjoy.

Jesus calls everyone to the banquet without distinction. He uses the terms 'good' and 'bad' so his audience, including us, can understand his point, but none of us is all good or all bad. When Jesus looks at us, he sees all that we are: lazy, procrastinator, felon, criminal, gracious, loving, illegal, joyful, critical, hurt. And he invites us to the banquet. He loves us. He loves you.

Come to the table. All is prepared.