Building God's Table: Guess Who Is Coming To Dinner

 Luke 14:12-14 Common English Bible

Then Jesus said to the person who had invited him, “When you host a lunch or dinner, don’t invite your friends, your brothers and sisters, your relatives, or rich neighbors. If you do, they will invite you in return and that will be your reward. Instead, when you give a banquet, invite the poor, crippled, lame, and blind. And you will be blessed because they can’t repay you. Instead, you will be repaid when the just are resurrected.”

Earlier this week Nancy and I were invited to join two other couples for a “formal” dinner party.  

The men all wore coats and ties, and the women were dressed to the nines.

It is so much fun to get together with friends, 

break bread

and to be able to share life together.

One of the things that Nancy and I really enjoy is going on cruises.

We have cruised with family

And we have cruised with friends.

But probably the most memorable cruise we ever took was our first.

It was to celebrate Nancy’s fortieth birthday and it was just the two of us.

We picked the Holland American line because they had a reputation for being a bit more hoity toity and we were looking forward to a week of being pampered.

What we didn’t expect, was when we departed from the cruise port --- that my suitcase would not be on the ship.

For the first three days

I had the clothes that I had embarked on (Khakis and a Hawaiian print shirt)

A bathing suit and Holland American Tee Shirt that I bought

Every night they would come and get my clothes and wash them for me and deliver them first thing in the morning.

It was CRAZY!

But I can also tell you --- it was better that it was MY suitcase and not Nancy’s!

The biggest challenge was --- before my suitcase would arrive --- they held the first formal night.

I was very active with the Chamber of Commerce in Northwest Indiana --- and as a result of that Nancy and I would attend a number of black-tie events each year.

What always surprised me, is how few people wanted to get “dressed up”

And over the years, the number of people wearing a tux, or a formal dress seemed to become smaller and smaller.

We, however, love it.

There is something special about getting all dressed up.

It came to be the formal night --- and I still did not have my clothes.

Fortunately, the cruise line lent me a tux, so that I could be appropriately dressed.

As we got to dinner, we met our table companions

It ended up being one of the most fascinating evenings of my life.

It was two couples --- who were both in the seventies or eighties

One of the couples, he had been a professor and had marvelous tales to tell

The other, I left convinced had been a spy of some sort for the British government.

Regardless, his tales were fascinating.

You never know who is coming to dinner!

But there are other times --- where we have gone, when we feel like we are not a part of the group.

Everybody seems to know each other

Everybody seems to be huddled in little groups talking amongst themselves

And if you have ever found yourself in that situation --- boy, it can feel uncomfortable.

For those of you who are extroverts --- you may never have sensed that isolation or loneliness that can come from feeling like a fish out of water.

But for the rest of us, who are introverts --- it can be terrifying.

Our Gospel story this morning is set in the midst of typical first century life.

We are told that it is a Sabbath, and Jesus has been invited to dinner at the home of a leading Pharisee

At the meal, Jesus observes “how the guests chose the places of honor” (14:7).

You have to love Jesus’ response to how the people found their seats.

He offers two suggestions to us.

First, he tells a parable in which the point seems to be to discourage his listeners from seeking the most prestigious seat at the table to avoid the humiliating situation of being displaced by someone of greater importance (14:8). 

Instead, they are to take the lowest place so that they might be elevated to a more honorable seat by their host

The reality is --- meals were situations that highlighted the social disparities in the first century world.

If you sit down and read contemporaneous documents ---

You can find all kinds of advice about how one is to act at such a meal.

In the Jewish wisdom book, Sirach, we are told to be deferential at such meals. (Sirach 31:12-18)

Jesus goes even further than Sirach in warning against seeking out the most favored or honorable seats.

Humility --- as you know --- is one of the hallmarks that Jesus taught to his followers.

If you read the whole of Luke chapter 14, what will probably strike you is that Jesus DOES NOT castigate the system of honor at meals.

Instead he seems to assume that it is normal.

As we move to our passage this morning --- we hear a slightly different message from Jesus.

Certainly one that address the fabric of the honor and status structures of the first century world --- by turning things upside down --- as Jesus seems prone to do.

[Jesus] turned to the host. “The next time you put on a dinner, don’t just invite your friends and family and rich neighbors, the kind of people who will return the favor. Invite some people who never get invited out, the misfits from the wrong side of the tracks. You’ll be—and experience—a blessing. They won’t be able to return the favor, but the favor will be returned—oh, how it will be returned!—at the resurrection of God’s people.” (The Message)

Jesus calls for inclusion of those who cannot return the invitation.

Jesus is inviting us to live by a different social system than the ones dictated by society.

Jesus is inviting us to live by kin-dom values which is marked by radical inclusion.

One of the main reasons that I am a United Methodist

Other than I grew up in this tradition

I appreciate the fact that we have an OPEN TABLE

What I mean by that is that we understand that Christ’s table is open to EVERYONE!

Not just those who are members

Not just those who live by our expectations

Christ’s table is open to EVERYONE

I truly believe that you are a child of God

And that God makes room for YOU at God’s table. 

But I also believe that those that I struggle with (OK, sometimes just plain don’t like) that they too are children of God 

--- and that God has made room for them at God’s table as well.

And what God desires is for me and you --- to make room for them as well.

Before the pandemic --- Nancy and I regularly hosted dinners at our house and invited you to come.

Somewhere between 50 and 100 of you came and joined us at our home

As the evening approached it wasn’t always comfortable for Nancy and I

We didn’t always know some you when we you came

We didn’t know where the conversation would lead us

But what we found --- is that if we relaxed and trusted in God’s grace and offered hospitality --- that when the evening was over we made new friends

People who we now knew

People who we could share life with

If there was anything that the pandemic stole from ME more than anything else

It was the ability to sit down with people --- some I really didn’t know --- and break bread together and share in the love of God.

We all have something special to contribute to the conversation of radical hospitality

Imagine a world where our differences don’t have to divide us and we can celebrate both what brings us together and what makes us diverse.

Being the Body of Christ does not mean that we will not have uncomfortable experiences

Instead, it offers us the possibility that we all can work toward making space for the uniqueness that exists within the Kingdom of God. 

You all have no doubt seen the silly Planet Fitness commercials staring Dennis Rodman and Lindsay Lohan.  Two people who generally don’t fit into the mainstream of our society.

Their tagline for the ads seems to be one we can learn from.

They say that their goal is to be a “Judgement Free Zone.” 

May we --- As the church, also seek to be place where people don’t feel judged but rather know that they have a place at the table.

That they my know that they are a child of God

This morning we welcomed Simon into the family of God.

Think of the vows YOU made

You promised to nurture each other --- as well as Simon with the love of God

A love that knows NO bounds

May it be so!  Amen.

Drink From The Fountain of Grace: The Cup That Never Runs Dry

John 20:1-18

A few years ago Nancy and I went to New Orleans

While we were there ---we decided to go visit some of the famous cemeteries of the city.

Because New Orleans is built on a swamp, the deceased must be buried above ground in elaborate stone crypts and mausoleums. 

Over time the cemeteries, with elaborate sculptures and other decorative artwork embellishing the tombs, have come to resemble small villages. 

They are known by the nickname of “Cities of the Dead.”

Just north of the French Quarter is the most famous cemetery, St. Louis Cemetery #1

It is the burial place of Marie Laveau, the legendary “voodoo queen.” 

Believers and non-believers alike make pilgrimages to her tomb to make offerings to her spirit in return for what they hope will be blessings. The many “X’s” scrawled on the tomb attest to the power she is believed to wield, even long after her death

But by far, the most interesting was a trolley ride away at the Metairie Cemetery.

It is built on a former horse racing track, and is the site of some of the most elaborate monuments and tombs to be found in New Orleans.

I could show you pictures for hours --- but the most interesting is that of the weeping angel.

It is a copy of a sculpture that originally was made as a grave stone for the artist, William Story and his wife, in Rome.

It is --- to put it mildly --- beautiful!

Our world seems to be filled with weeping . . .

The horrific war in the Ukraine is beyond our ability to comprehend

Fires are burning out of control in New Mexico.

Earlier this week there was the shooting on the subway in New York City

Friday was the 1-year anniversary of the Fed Ex shooting here in Indianapolis in which 8 people died

And Friday evening we gathered around the cross to remember Jesus’ crucifixion

Sometimes it seems as if evil is winning --- doesn't it?

Every time you open the newspaper or turn on the TV it seems that there is more and more evil in the world.

But today we gather to say to the world that while evil seems strong --- 

seems stronger than good sometimes 

--- today we gather to say that love always overcomes evil!

That love is stronger --- stronger even than death!

But NOT without Easter 

Without Easter --- we wouldn’t be here this morning ---- and I don't think we would be proclaiming that love is stronger that death!

If Jesus’ story had ended with his murder by crucifixion, 

his body left to be eaten by the birds and dogs 

--- my hunch is Jesus would have been forgotten, remembered only by a small few who viewed him as a failure.

Jesus would have been just another Jew crucified by the Roman Empire, 

an empire that executed thousands upon thousands on a cross.

Maybe the Roman—Jewish historian Josephus would have left us a word or two about this itinerant preacher who was executed, but I kind of doubt it

in all likelihood you and I would never have heard of him.

Or can you imagine if the Disciples had just gone home?

What if they figured that the guy that they had been following, well, they decided that he wasn’t all that they had expected him to be?

Where would we be today?

I have thought about that a great deal this week . . .

One of the things that has always amazed me --- maybe even frustrated me --- is that It seems pretty clear from the gospel stories that the disciples never really understood what Jesus was all about.

They are constantly confused about what Jesus mission was

In Mark’s Gospel (the earliest Gospel) we find that after Jesus was dead that: Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome come to the tomb with various spices so that they could embalm Jesus.

In other words --- they didn't come looking for the resurrected Jesus

They came looking for a dead Jesus

And in Matthew, Luke and John ---- when the encounter the resurrected Jesus:

• In Matthew they think it is an Angel

• In Luke they think it is two men

• And in John --- Mary thinks it is the gardener

They were not expecting to find Jesus resurrected!

And where were the disciples?

All the disciples are nowhere to be found.

Matthew, Luke and John all tell us that the Disciples were in hiding, because they were afraid that what happened to Jesus was going to happen to them

John goes so far as to tell us that on resurrection day, after Mary has already come and told them that she had encountered the risen Christ, that they were still hiding.

(John 20:19 The Message)  Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. 

What is amazing to me is that this frightened group of people somehow once they encountered the resurrected Jesus --- were totally transformed by the experience.

No longer were they afraid, ---- now they were willing to go out and proclaim Jesus and his Way --- even when it ultimately may have lead to their own martyrdoms.

Without a doubt, one of the reasons Jesus was resurrected was to transform this ragtag group of peasants into the strongest force the world has ever encountered.

• Not an army that would change the world through weapons, 

• but an army that would change the world through the sacrificial love that Jesus demonstrated throughout his life and through his death!

But is that why Jesus was resurrected?  

To straighten out the misfits who had failed to understand him?

Again, I am just not sure. . .

Or one other possibility ----maybe, just maybe, Jesus was resurrected for us 

--- for all of humanity that followed.

Maybe Jesus was resurrected so that we could understand that Jesus is not simply some historical figure from the ancient past, but that Jesus is an ever present reality --- seeking to be present in our lives --- in a very real way.

Unfortunately, I think that we sometimes just like the disciples ---- we too are confused about the meaning of Jesus' resurrection.

We think that because Jesus was resurrected that our circumstances will change.

IF WE BELIEVE in the resurrection then no harm will come to us

• We will be protected from evil

• Cancer or other illness will not rage in our bodies

• Our marriages will be secure

• We will get into heaven

If only we believe . . . 

But that is not the way that it works

The resurrection doesn’t change our circumstances 

--- what the resurrection changes is our perspective

Resurrection gives us hope!

There is an apocryphal story about a town that was suffering through a severe drought.

It was a farm town, and their crops (and thus livelihood) was being destroyed

The local pastor called all the townspeople together for a prayer meeting so that together they might ask God to bring rain.

He asked all those who believed that God had the power to send rain to gather with him at 4 pm on the designated day.

When the hour came ---- the church was filled and overflowing with the faithful.

The Pastor got up to start the meeting ---- but looking around he instead said:

"Go, home there is no faith here!"

As you can imagine, the people were all perplexed at the pastor's sudden attitude and began to clamor, wanting to know why?  Why was he sending them all home --- Why didn't he believe they had any faith?

Again he told them to go home ---- but this time he added:

"Where is your faith?  I don't see a single umbrella here!"

Jesus death and resurrection reminds us that

The light of Jesus is stronger than the darkness . . .

That Love is stronger than death!

Jesus was resurrected to remind us that sometimes things that appear to be dead ends really aren’t.

When we turn the light on them, sometimes, they lead us around through another way

Most of us probably wouldn’t pick the resurrection story that is found in the Gospel of Mark if we had to choose just one.

It ends so abruptly.

They saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed all in white. They were completely taken aback, astonished.

He said, "Don't be afraid. I know you're looking for Jesus the Nazarene, the One they nailed on the cross. He's been raised up; he's here no longer. You can see for yourselves that the place is empty. Now—on your way. Tell his disciples and Peter that he is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You'll see him there, exactly as he said."

They got out as fast as they could, beside themselves, their heads swimming. Stunned, they said nothing to anyone.

That’s it!

• No entrance of Jesus into a locked room

• No road to Emmaus

• No story on the sea of Galilee

Mark just ends and leaves us hanging.  

Almost bewildered.

It is as if Mark is leaving the ending up to us ---- along with the Jesus, followers to figure out.

They disciples quickly discover that Easter was not about them — instead, it’s about God. 

It’s about God filling the empty places in our lives with new and unexpected life.

Filling our broken and battered cups

He did it for the first followers of Jesus, . . . and he offers to do it for us.

The good news is that we don’t have to earn or deserve this gift of new life. 

What we have to do is be willing to journey with Jesus into the future he’s preparing for us. 

But it is John’s resurrection stories that are my favorite. 

And in our text this morning we have three disciples who all have a different reaction to the empty tomb.

First, we have Mary Magdalene

Early the morning after Jesus is executed ---Mary goes to the tomb alone. 

We are told that it was still dark. 

What is the first thing she does?

Mary runs to tell Simon Peter and the “beloved disciple” that the stone was rolled away.

I love the image of Peter and this other disciple running to the tomb.

The “beloved disciple” is the better runner and beats Peter to the tomb --- but we are told that he does not go in.

When Peter arrives, no doubt out of breath, he sticks his head into the tomb and the beloved disciple follows him.

John tells us that both “see and believe,” yet they head home as if nothing has changed.

Mary waits patiently behind, and after they leave, she enters the tomb and finds it empty.

Well not completely empty.

While Jesus was missing --- she saw two angels --- they were where the body of Jesus should have been.

Did Peter and the other disciple see these angels?

We don’t know, and I doubt that they did.

The angels asked Mary: “Why are you crying?”

I love her answer, because it is so genuine:

“They have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they’ve put him.” 

We are then told that she sees another person there at the tomb and this person asks:

“Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?”

Mary assumed he must be one of the caretakers of the garden replies:

“Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him and I will get him.”

Jesus calls her by name and her eyes were opened and she saw that Jesus was alive!

What I love about this story (and the resurrection stories that will follow) is that Jesus meets us right where we are.

Peter and the beloved disciples may have believed --- but they clearly didn’t understand yet that Jesus was alive.

So Jesus goes to them and we have the story of Thomas.

The disciples are locked up and hiding --- and yet Jesus comes.

Jesus is persistent with the disciples and Jesus is persistent with us in showing up. 

Easter is the reminder that Jesus is a cup that never runs dry. 

Easter is the reminder that no matter how battered and broken our cup is, God is filling it will love and forgiveness.

Each of us experience resurrection differently --- just as the disciples did.

For Mary it was hearing Jesus call her name

For Thomas it was seeing the nail holes

For the disciples on the road to Emmaus, and for Peter and many of the other disciples it was in the breaking of bread once again with Jesus.

When Jesus calls Mary by name, she finally recognizes him as her beloved “Rabbouni!” 

Immediately, Jesus tells Mary not to hold onto him because he has not yet ascended to God. 

Jesus also sends her to spread the good news to the other disciples. 

Like a flowing river or fountain, Jesus is alive and on the move – not an object to be possessed (held onto) or simply a doctrine to be believed. 

Just as water flows, Jesus, our living water, moves 

and moves us with him! 

The response Jesus asks of Mary is to get moving and spread the good news. 

So on this Easter morning, I pray that you experience the living Christ --- and that you have the courage to allow Jesus to fill your cup and share it with those you encounter.

Maybe that means asking for forgiveness

Or showing grace to someone who has hurt you

Regardless --- Jesus invites us to allow our cups --- our broken and battered lives --- to be filled to overflowing with the love and grace of God.

Jesus Christ is Risen!

He is risen indeed!