Defrosting Our Religion
Havthew 3110-17

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seu dt iv an liwediate relevance tor the Church today.

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onteles in due etrcet, or standing im the

we the Phorleeec.

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They had come to see this strange prophet from Nazareth; they were secenda-
lized by what they saws

Suddenly one of them mustered his courage and shoulddout above the
happy din: “Jesus of Hasareth, - what's the meaning of this? How can you
explain this ~ you who would come in the name of the Lord, eating with
people like these?" I imagine them being horrified. ‘They represented
religion: they stoo# for everything that was upright and gocd and res=
pectable. And this man ~- well, anyone could wee that he couldn't be worth
listening to.

There were others among the peripheral spectators. Disciples of
John the Baptist: lean, ascetic men who emulated their teacher by spending
most of their time in the desert wilderness, eating locusts and wild honey,
regorously denying themselves for the sake of purity. ‘The first etone
was cast by the Pharisees. They threw the second: "Why do
we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples fo not fast?" It was a little
like getting caught by the minister, sitting on your patio, cool drink
in hand, on Sunday mornigg.

‘or the Jesus fasting was an obligation on the Day of Atonement,
Yom Kippur, and other publically proclaimed fast days. ‘The reference here
is to voluntary fasting, a personal discipline for thse who wanted to do
something additional ar an expression of piety and devotion. I+ mist huge
been a tense moment. Not many people agreed with John the Baptist, but
there was no questioning their sincerity and devotion. ‘nd #9 Jesus re=
lied gently but firmly: "Can the wedding cuests momrn as long ax the bride-
groom is with them?"

He did not, you will notice, argue with them about their fasting.
He made no value judgement. He merely introduced a new idea ~ that

Cblebration just might be an appropriate mode of expression as far as

he was concerned. ‘he image of the wedding feast is, of course, quite

en
commen in the vacabulary of the Hew Festament. ‘weddings were real
Ceachevidene. “he wedding Teast Jesus himself attended had heen going on

faye befern be got there: and from the amount of wine he oro-
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Vicen bu cust heve continued for several more dayc.
Sah, Ag ony cure, ir the situation desoribed in cur few Testanent
desea Ghic rossi. ‘Tha abtirviion itealf can be internreted an tumuecuse

dios Cntanacwa When iicarbbon of the Pharisees. jut idoin ables

ary ope netsh biluntestion or the kinds of conflicts the Cosneb ov

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Gly Jou. wb ue Lmudg of these dune religicaun avtheri td 7 Com

sicmiftie:mes for ur today.

ve nave Rome here this morning, ontenritely, becanse we are very
hapoy chant gomething. Ve are here on the Piret day of the week: to

ragspection of domes Ghried Prom the emi, ve ave

CAG Sooo expeeenion to our faith that all ig well, y Ghat owes reencdiowe

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preese in i? they dontt get that job done, we aught to find some oi

activity like clapping our hands.

I itve singled out hymn singing because nothing deprersis me oo uch

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it often seans forsaking union membership. It means avoiding associating
with the omsaved " God's “rosen People £127] That is, religion :onic the

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