Guilty as charged. That’s how I felt when reading the scriptures for today. Guilty of preferring the places of honor and privilege–at tables, at sporting events, concerts and plays. I mean, who doesn’t like having access to the good seats, amiright?

This week, I had the chance to go to a live Dungeons & Dragons show at Broadway in Chicago! I was especially excited because Aabria Iyengar, one of my favorite Dungeon Masters, was a guest star. She’s led some of the most creative and moving campaigns I’ve watched online.

In today's Gospel reading, we find ourselves in a synagogue on the Sabbath. The place is filled with familiar sounds—quiet footsteps, whispered greetings, and the rustling of robes. It is the weekly rhythm of worship, a rhythm that for generations has brought God's people into sacred rest and reflection.