Fr Ed Homily 8-20-20

Come As You Are

Many of you know I enjoy music. Music of many types. Sometimes, as I reflect on the readings of the day, a sentence will draw my attention and remind me of a song. The melody begins to come to mind, and soon I can’t get it out of my head. In today’s gospel, the king’s guests do not come to the wedding. In frustration, he sends his servants to invite everyone on the streets or wherever they can be found to come to the wedding. This is what reminded me of the phrase come as you are. Where does that come from? Toby Keith wrote a song called “I Love This Bar”. The phrase come as you are is in that song.

For those who don’t know the song, he’s singing about his favorite bar. In this bar there are different people from all over who do all kinds of different work. It doesn’t matter who they are. Everyone is welcome in this bar. It doesn’t matter what you look like or how much money you make or how smart you are. Come as you are. Everyone is welcome.

So, let me make a little change to this song. How about this? “I love this Church!” I invite you all to come as you are. It doesn’t matter where you work. Or how much money you have. Come with what you have. And most importantly, come as you are. Bring yourselves to God. Offer yourselves to God. Know that He always welcomes you. I love this church. It may not be the greatest, it may have problems, but it is the Church of God. That’s enough for me.

May the Lord bless you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.