Written on October 3, 2008

For the Lectionary of October 12, 2008: Matthew 22:1-14

ADD ON by Larry Patten

It’s a tough time for selling a house.

In my neighborhood some For Sale signs seem permanent fixtures, little different than flowers planted or the length of the driveway.

One thing changes. As I walked by one house, a strip of wood was newly linked by chain to the For Sale sign: Reduced Price.

Then I noticed, on a different house, another variation: Price Improved. And on a third: New Price.

Same story, different words?

Price Improved is the most peculiar. I assumed it signaled the listed price was lowered. But couldn’t I make other assumptions?

I’m easily irked when I see a $19.99 price for an item. Come on, it’s really twenty bucks. Just say so! Or the car on the lot with the “$24,999.99 with only 72 low monthly payments.” Get real! Just say twenty-five grand and the payments will go on forever. Wouldn’t that be an improvement . . . simplicity and honesty?

Or, since my Merriam-Webster’s uses “to increase” and “to make additions” to define improve, couldn’t that mean the house’s improved price is higher?

For sale. Reduced. Improved. New. What would you put on your sign as an enticement? And how would the “seller” interpret it?

It is always intriguing to see how the gospels chain-link a few more words to a parable. With some parables, we only have one version and therefore no comparisons. Why did “The Good Samaritan” only appear in Luke 10:25-37? Or why was Matthew the only source for the “Laborers in the Vineyard” (20:1-14)?

But today I read all three versions of “The Wedding Banquet” parable. You can find ‘em at Matthew 22:1-14, Luke 14:15-24, and the ever-popular Thomas 64:1-12. (If you wish to read Thomas, click and then scroll down to "64.")

Which one do you prefer? One that’s reduced? Or improved? Or maybe new? The beginnings are similar, but distinct:

• a secular ruler who gave a wedding celebration for his son . . . (Matthew)
• someone was giving a big dinner and invited many guests . . . (Luke)
• a person was receiving guests . . . (Thomas)

Party time! However the invited folks, one way or the other, snub their noses at the host. And the story continued. More are invited. The bums and ne’er-do-wells and misfits encircle the table and fill the dance floor. It’s the ending, like an additional strip of wood added to a For Sale sign, where each version diverged.

Matthew’s conclusion was mean. One of the bums, already in conversation with the hooker next to him about where to scrounge for the best day-old food, wasn’t wearing a “wedding robe.” And the ruler tossed him out. Bum be gone!

Scholars I’ve read suggest Matthew embellished this scene to demonstrate that even within the early Christian community, several generations after Jesus’ ministry, folks better watch out. It was added to add fear. A warning.

Earlier this week I was biking through my favorite Fresno-area park at my “usual” morning time. I typically see the same folks. Some are walkers. Some bikers. We smile, we nod. But we all have to be careful for the cars that rumble through the park’s roads. I cautiously approached a turn and signaled. After all, I’m astride twenty pounds of fancy, flimsy carbon fiber and those two-ton SUVs seem larger than a tyrannosaurus rex.

I raised my arm to the right turn’s capital “L” shape.

One of the regular walkers—he with the carefully trimmed white beard and friendly smile—saw me signal and enthusiastically waved.

He thought I was greeting him! And yet, I prefer his interpretation. I’d rather spend time greeting and welcoming people than worrying or warning about disaster.

Matthew added a directional signal. If someone disagrees, they are gone. Maybe Matthew’s view is correct? Maybe we always have to watch out for “dangerous” slackers or hypocrites? Thomas added a warning too: watch out for those “buyers and merchants.” From Matthew’s bums to Thomas’ Wall Street brokers (okay, a modern interpretation) . . . be ready to dump ‘em all!

Why do we have to add the warnings? Why are we so afraid?

It’s always a tough time to sell a house. Or open a “house” to everyone. We entice. We promote fear. Too many parties are still waiting to happen.

in Peace,

Larry