Scripture: Isaiah 55:6-9; Luke 13:22-30

Like all good fairy tales it begins with once upon a time, in a land far, far away.  And, yes, there was a handsome prince who had everything – wealth, a beautiful palace, and servants.  The one thing he did not have, however, was a kind and generous heart.  

One cold winter night, a poor, haggard woman appeared at the castle door.  In exchange for shelter from the bitter winds, she was prepared to give him the only possession she had – a single red rose.  The prince, however, was as unimpressed with her gift as he was repulsed by her looks.   

So, he demanded that she leave at once.  It was then the woman warned him not to be deceived by appearances, for true beauty is found within.  When he dismissed her for the second time, the woman’s ugliness melted and she revealed her true self – a beautiful enchantress.  

Realizing his mistake, the prince begged her for forgiveness.  It was too late.  She already there was no love in his heart.  As punishment, the enchantress cast a spell that transformed him from a handsome prince into the hideous beast that he already was. 

Before disappearing into the night, she decided to give him one last chance.  Handing him the rose, the enchantress told him that if he learned to love and be loved before the last petal fell, the spell would be broken.  If he failed to do so – if he continued to think only of himself – then he would remain a beast forever.  And, because the rose was enchanted, too, he had until his twenty-first birthday to decide.  

Now like most fairy tales, the story of Beauty and the Beast has a very serious moral undertone.  And it is one that should make us very uncomfortable.  For like the prince, God has provided us with everything we need to live full, and happy blessed lives.  Yet, despite all we have been given . . . all that is ours . . . we have become a very calloused, self-centered and uncaring society.  Regrettably, those within the church have often led the way.  We have become so determined to protect our traditions, doctrines and beliefs that far too often the God of love and justice has been shoved from the center of our debates.  Even the Scriptures are being used as weapons of destruction rather than as a means of grace.  Like the Beast, it has become all about us.  

So, what are the consequences of imploding upon ourselves – of making ourselves the center of it all?  Well, among other things, while the Scriptures are clear that as people of faith we are to love God and our neighbors while praying for those who persecute us, we have convinced ourselves it is okay to hold grudges even when they lead to polarization or condemnation.  As for the neighbor thing, like the rich young man who asked the original question, we want to decide who is worthy of the honor and in doing so we retain the right to judge and condemn. And when Jesus informs us that we must enter his kingdom through the narrow door, we demand the freedom to knock it down and make it wider.  

And what is really ironic about all of this is that the current situation is not unique to our time in history.  In today’s Old Testament reading the Prophet Isaiah was attempting to show the Israelites exiles the error of their ways.  Although the exile was, at times, very bitter and inhumane, the people had been away from home for so long they had begun to forget who they really were – God’s chosen people.  In doing so, their attention was being redirected to all the benefits of modern life.  They had become so intrigued with the benefits of a commercial system and were expending so much energy in trying to fit into the very society that had oppressed them that they failed to see God’s presence among them and to follow God’s directives for them.   And what was really frightening is that the whole situation had become so natural to them they couldn’t see that the heaven they wanted was actually the hell they received.   

Yet, despite it all, the prophet told them it wasn’t too late.  God was prepared to save them if only they would open the door of their self-made hell and let him in.  All they had to do was repent.  All they had to do was be willing to align their thoughts and ways in accordance with God’s holy ways.  

But just as there was a part of the Beast who preferred the familiarity of his glistening snout, curved tusks, and lonely existence, so we, as sinners, prefer our sins to the life-changing demands of the Gospel.  That is why so many drop out before they actually get started.  The demands are too challenging.  The changes are too great.  And among those of us who do stay . . . well . . . there is a lot of foot dragging, complaining and attempted bargaining.  Yet, we are so important to our Creator that even during these times of faltering and failing God will not give up on us.  Remember?  While we were yet sinners Christ died for us.  

Christians, we can do it!  We don’t have to remain in our self-made hells.  We don’t have to be separated from the love of God that is ours through Christ.  While salvation is a long and sometimes difficult process it is attainable.  It is our gift from God.  But as C.S. Lewis once said:  The door to hell can only be opened from the inside.  

It’s not too late.  Open the door.  Let the beauty of Christ begin transforming your life today.