14th Sunday after Pentecost
Luke 14:1, 7-14
9/2/2007
Rev. Philip A. Bouknight
Have you ever noticed that something amazing happens every time that Jesus sits down for a meal? In the fifth chapter of the gospel of Luke, Jesus passed by the office of a tax collector whose name was Levi. He gave Levi the call of discipleship, “Come and follow me.” Levi dropped everything and followed him. Then Levi gave a meal in which many other tax collectors were invited. The Pharisees and their scribes took issue with this and questioned Jesus to which Jesus responded by calling himself the bridegroom. In Luke chapter seven, a Pharisee invited Jesus to dinner and during this dinner, a woman of the city, a great sinner, came in with an alabaster jar. She wet his feet with her tears, dried them with her hair and anointed his feet with costly ointment. Jesus responded by forgiving her sins. Again, the Pharisees took issue with this to which he responded to the woman “Your faith has saved you, go in peace.” In essence he affirmed in their presence that he was the savior of the world. In Luke chapter eleven, another Pharisee invites Jesus to dine and we hear that this Pharisee was astonished that Jesus did not wash before he ate. Jesus answered admonishing the Pharisees for their focus on the outward cleansing without regard to inner cleansing. He laid into them about their unfair behavior to those of lower classes and then laid into the lawyers who were present for their mistreatment of justice. In this meal, he was proclaiming a reordering of society and justice.
Today in our reading from the fourteenth chapter of Luke, the Pharisees again had invited him for a meal on the Sabbath. You would think that by this time, they would know better, but remember, they were trying to find ways to trap him and bring public charges against him. Jesus was watching the guests as they entered the dining hall and what he saw can still be seen today in many circles. People clamored to take seats of honor at the table. A man with dropsy appeared and Jesus asked the lawyers and the Pharisees if it was lawful to heal this man on the Sabbath. No one spoke so he healed the man right there on the spot and sent him away. He then attacked their social graces, inviting them to lives of humility. He said take the lowest seat and wait for the host to invite you to a higher seat at the table. Then he announced the great reversal that is brought by the coming of the messiah. All who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted. He went beyond social etiquette for this elite class of people that had gathered for the meal. He asked them to give dinners and invite people that could not repay them. He asked them to care for those who could not improve their social standing and those who would bring them social disgrace by having them dine in their houses. Invite the poor, the lame, the crippled and the blind he said, then you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. By doing this, he announced his knowledge of God’s blessing in the resurrection. Only God himself could make such a claim. In these meals as recorded by Luke, Jesus was proclaimed as the bridegroom, the savior of the world, one who called for a dynamic shift in how God’s people should live and one having intimate knowledge of the resurrection. There was never a dull meal in the presence of Jesus Christ.
I want to take a moment and look at our own social graces. Who do we invite to dine with us? In our own little sleepy community, there are many different social circles. In these circles, you will find that dinners are given and you will also find that rarely are persons present from outside of those circles. The make up of people around the table consist of those who enhance the host’s credibility in the community. We care a lot about who we are seen with. Sometimes, someone is invited into this circle momentarily and a big deal is made about their presence. They are there as a designated guest and their presence does not mean in any way that they will be invited to be a part of the social circle. It is but a brief nod to the fact that the circle should give deference to those who are less fortunate than they. Jesus was not asking for this kind of behavior. He does not wish for us to give a nod to those who are less fortunate. He invites us to bring many in who could not repay us. He invites us to dine with them, to share in their live learning intimately about the issues they face. After all, who do you think has the power to change the lives of the poor, the crippled, and the lame? Is it not those who sit in seats of power? Is it not those who have social standing and social influence? Could it be that the various social circles that exist in our community neglect to behave in this way, because they might just be moved to care about those who are less fortunate? Do we fail to live as Jesus would have us live, because it might mean that we would begin to spend more time with those who need assistance than we do with those who can assist us? What would it look like if we, God’s people, would stop viewing this scripture as Jesus’ words to the Pharisees and instead see it as his words to us?
There are many around us who are poor. Though we give to the food bank and though our churches have food ministries for the poor, many are not intimately involved in the lives of those they serve. It is one thing to feed a person and care for their needs. It is something altogether different to take that person into your home and learn to care about them as a person. There are many who are crippled and lame, both physically and mentally. It is one thing to provide assistance through government agencies and church programs. It is something altogether different to care about their livelihood and call them friend. Jesus was not calling for a charitable institution. He was bringing about a society where every member is seen as equally important and worthy to be loved. He was calling for us to live in a manner by which our lives would reflect the reality of God’s kingdom.
I have seen this kind of Godly living within the lives of this parish and I give thanks to God for these examples. It brings me a renewed sense of hope when I see our own members living in the way that Jesus commended us to live. In these instances, not only do I see a glimpse of God’s kingdom, I see lives that are mutually enriched. I see God’s love. Then I take a moment to look at who we invite to dinner here on Sunday morning. Again, I have a renewed sense of hope, because in our parish, there are people from all walks of life and all levels of socio economic status. It is a beautiful picture; what the Church looks like when everyone is invited. You are to be commended for living in such a way that proclaims the good news of Jesus Christ. At this table, no one is given a special seat. Children commune with adults. The poor commune with the rich. Our life together is one of humbleness and peaceful coexistence, all of us drawing from the fountain of grace that is ours through Jesus Christ. At this meal people are healed, people are forgiven, people are strengthened and nurtured to live lives worthy of the gospel.
Something amazing happens every time Jesus sits us down for a meal. Jesus the bridegroom is with us. Jesus the savior of the world is with us. Jesus who reordered society and who reordered justice is with us. Jesus, the resurrected Christ is with us. Oh that everyone could experience the life changing meal that is offered every Sunday that we gather in his name. Look around and ask yourself who is missing? Who isn’t dining with us? Who, in this sleepy community goes week after week without the meal? It could be members of the church. It could be your neighbor. It could be the man or woman whom you see around town that is somewhat ostracized because they are “different.” Invite them to a meal in your home. Open your doors so that your home becomes a welcoming place, a place that receives all people regardless of their age, race, economic status or physical ability. Invite them in for a meal and then invite them into your lives. Care about them as though they were your family, because that is what they are. Then invite them to this house. Invite them to the meal where Jesus is present. Introduce them to the bridegroom, the savior, the one who taught you to reorder your social lives, the one who instated real justice. Invite them to receive the resurrected Christ. Then watch as he heals them, as he transforms them, as our savior changes them so that they see in this world a piece of what is theirs in heaven. The table is set and there are plenty of empty seats. Out of all the meals that are recorded in Luke, this is the only one that continues to be offered week after week and year after year. Incredible things happen when Jesus sits us down for a meal. Remember this when you come to his table.
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