You Did Not Dance

Jesus said, “But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another,
‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we wailed, and you did not mourn.’
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”
Then he began to reproach the cities in which most of his deeds of power had been done, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, on the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades. For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that on the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom than for you.” Matthew 11:16-24 

In many of our Native traditions there are times and seasons when we dance and times when we do not. We have been taught what to wear when and who should wear it, which dances are for tribal members only and which are for everyone, visitors included. Respect and correct behavior are expected so that we can model for  our little ones. At every pow-wow I have attended those who have served in the military are honored first during grand entries. Our lives are shaped by respect, honor and responsibility - for the traditions, for one another, for all people, for all living things and our earth.

Jesus is responding to the accusations of his inappropriate life style. He has brought so much goodness and love to the world, and yet some wanted to trip him up and disrespect him. He knew their hearts were not full of respect, honor and caring. He knew they wanted to sit on the sidelines and criticize, even those who had received abundant blessings at his hand. We are invited by God this day to live as people who honor what we have been given and live responsibly, celebrating and sharing the love we have received.

Today I ask God to help me model respect, honor and responsibility in all things. May all that we do be done to the glory of God. May our lives encourage others to turn to the Incarnate God and live in the love that is being showered down upon the whole of creation.