Pentecost 14c - conclusion

Proverbs 25:6-7; Psalm 112; Hebrews 13:1-16; Luke 14:1-14

In the world of culinary induced cardiac arrest not many gastronomic inventions can beat the Saucer Bratzel. The SB served without shame at the Flying Saucer, Fort Worth, TX is a large salted soft Pretzel toasted and then topped with slices of Bratwurst and smothered in melted Swiss cheese with a garnish of diced green onion and spicy mustard on the side. It should come with a warning label as no amount of cardio can save you from the calories in this puppy. The SB can’t come close to Kosher so Jesus never experienced heart attack on a plate, but if he had he might have turned it into an object lesson as he did when observing the seating of guests at the dinner party of the Pharisee. The texts for Pentecost 14c can all be found in the Gospel. No doubt the Pharisee and his guests recognized Jesus’ application of the proverb to the party. And the righteous are rewarded in the reordering of the guest list in the same way that the psalmist fears no evil tidings for distributing freely to the poor is its own reward. Whether angels are in attendance or not the hospitality of Hebrews is the praise that pleases in the same way that inviting the poor and lame and crippled and blind is a foretaste of the resurrection of the righteous. And if Jesus had said something about the SB he might have anticipated Paul's word to the Corinthians. “Everything is permissible for me—but not everything is beneficial.” Amen to that.