(Each Saturday, a faith leader in Franklin County offers a personal perspective in this space. To become part of this series, email religion@recorder.com or call 413-772-0261, ext. 265.)
Once upon a time, in a far-away village, there lived a baker. In his shop he sold muffins and scones, breads and bagels, but his true specialty was decorated cakes — cakes for birthdays, cakes for weddings, all sorts of cakes for all sorts of occasions.
One day, two men came to the baker’s shop to order a cake for their wedding. The baker had never before made a wedding cake for two grooms, and he hesitated. What would Jesus do? he wondered. He told the couple to come back tomorrow for his answer.
That night, the baker could not sleep, so troubled was he by his customers’ request. After tossing and turning for some time, he turned on his bedside lamp and reached for the Bible he kept on his nightstand. He began to read the Gospels, searching for a sign. Finally, long past midnight, he dozed off, the book still open on his lap.
As he slept, the baker dreamed. In his dream, a man was sitting in the chair next to his bed. “What is troubling you, my son?” asked the stranger.
“Two men have asked me to bake them a wedding cake. What shall I do?”
The stranger pointed to the book in his lap and said, “Your answer is there.”
The Baker looked down at his Bible, which had fallen open to the Sermon on the Mount. He read the familiar words: “If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.”
Suddenly the Baker understood. “You mean — if I am forced to bake them a cake … ”
“Then you must bake two.”
Here ends my tale, for a tale it is, although inspired by actual events. Last month the Supreme Court gave its verdict in a case involving a Colorado baker who had been asked to make a cake for a same-sex wedding. Unlike the baker in my tale, this baker refused, citing religious principles. For various complex reasons, the Court ruled that the baker was not obligated to bake the cake.
But love begins where obligation ends.
I don’t recall Jesus ever denying his disciples permission to bless someone, or to forgive someone, or to feed someone. Jesus himself was often criticized for being too permissive — too friendly with sinners, too free with the fallen, too ready to heal and forgive. The truth is that loving our neighbor is hard enough for most of us. Few of us are in danger of being too kind, or too forgiving, or too generous with our blessing. How tragic, then, to curb those rare, generous impulses, to hide our light under a bushel, for fear of attracting the wrong sort of people.
Would Jesus have baked that cake? As far as I know, Jesus never baked a cake for anyone; but he never turned down an invitation to dine with anyone, either. Tax collectors, sinners, religious leaders, lepers, you name it. So, whoever you are, whomever you love: we’ve got some cake waiting for you. Or, at the very least, some cookies and lemonade.
The First Church of Deerfield is an inquisitive, inclusive, open and affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ and the Unitarian Universalist Association. The church gathers for worship, music and refreshments each Sunday at 10 a.m. in the “Brick Church” at 71 Old Main St. in Deerfield. Children always welcome. For more information, look for us on Facebook or on the web at www.firstchurchofdeerfield.org.
PLEASE NOTE: On Sunday, July 22, we will have a sunset service at 7 p.m. instead of our usual 10 a.m. service.