For my birthday this year, my dear friend Richard McKeon got tickets for the both of us to see a book talk with performers Murray Hill and Bridget Everett. We are fans of these artists, as well as of the HBO show Somebody, Somewhere, created by Everett and starring them both. Murray Hill recently released a memoir titled Showbiz! My Life as a Middle Aged Man, and Bridget Everett joined him to discuss his book and share some stories from their years of friendship….

In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of a king who prepares a wedding feast for his son. The invitation goes out, but some refuse to come. Others become distracted by their work and daily responsibilities, while still others reject the invitation altogether. Eventually, the king opens the feast to everyone he can find. The image reminds us that God’s invitation is generous and reaches far beyond the people we might expect.

As we prepare for the midterm elections, this Gospel can invite us to reflect on what it means to respond to the invitations and responsibilities placed before us. Voting is one way we participate in the life of our community and exercise our responsibility for the common good. It asks us not simply to react to campaign messages or political arguments, but to take time to become informed, to listen carefully, and to consider how the decisions we make affect our neighbors, especially those who may be vulnerable or overlooked….

The picture above is of an art installation currently on display at our Cathedral of Saint John the Divine. Titled “Gaia,” the three-dimensional rendition of earth was created by UK artist Luke Jerram. It is seven meters in diameter (which is 1.8 million times smaller that the real earth) and recreates the 120 dpi detailed NASA imagery of the earth’s surface. Standing in certain spots in the Cathedral allows observers to view Earth as it appears from the moon…..