Exodus 32:7-14 (NRSV)
The Lord said to Moses, "Go down at once! Your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have acted perversely; they have been quick to turn aside from the way that I commanded them; they have cast for themselves an image of a calf, and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, `These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!'" The Lord said to Moses, "I have seen this people, how stiff-necked they are. Now let me alone, so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; and of you I will make a great nation."But Moses implored the Lord his God, and said, "O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, `It was with evil intent that he brought them out to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce wrath; change your mind and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, how you swore to them by your own self, saying to them, `I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.'" And the Lord changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people.
Psalm 51 (BCP., p.656)
1 Timothy 1:12-17 (NRSV)
I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-- of whom I am the foremost. But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luke 15: 1-10 (NRSV)
All the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."So he told them this parable: "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, `Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, `Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
Blog Reflection
The opportunity to share a meal with someone means a lot more than just eating. We live in a time and society in which the important thing is to sit and eat. If you are working, you eat your lunch as quickly as you can. Sometimes you are fortunate to have an actual lunch break. Other times, you may be someone who works through lunch. Eating and working at the same time.
One of the downfalls of the electronic age of the internet, iPhones, Androids, television, iPads, etc, is that we communicate with individuals far and near. Sometimes during meals. I am embarrassed to say that I am all too often pulled in to doing this too. As John Michael Talbot wrote in The Universal Monk, "We talk more in our time, but communicate less."
When we actually sit with others (family, friends, church communities, etc) to break bread, enjoy a refreshing drink and share in good conversation; we are engaging in community living. No longer is it just us vs. them. In eating and drinking with others, we share what we are receiving with those who have grown, prepared and made what we are eating and drinking possible. We are also sharing our lives and hearts with those we are eating with.
Those questioning what Jesus is doing in today's Gospel, are worried about what kind of people He is sharing the dinner table with. They feel that there must be some kind of litmus test as to who should be seated at Jesus' table with Him and the communities that are gathering around Him. What Jesus is doing here, is welcoming all who come to the table without labeling, stereotyping, and excluding. The behavior of those whom Jesus has invited, might be questionable by others standards. Jesus is not interested in standards. Jesus came as God among us, to make a place at the table for anyone who wants to come and eat. Jesus offers them and us in this Gospel to come as we are to find refuge and rest in God's gift of salvation with no pretenses or requirements other than to come and eat. His happiness and the joy of Heaven is that people who often wondered if there was a place in God's loving Presence for them, find that they are warmly and eagerly welcomed.
The image of a table can also be symbolic of other opportunities to share with others who are different from ourselves. Over these past few weeks we have been reading and hearing about the efforts to help the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North Dakota. The potential for a pollution disaster is enormous. Our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry calls on us to think carefully about what clean water means to all of us; and our commitment to be good stewards of this vital resource.
At the heart of this debate and issue, is the dignity of all human persons. All too long Americans and the Church have failed to regard the Native Americans with respect and dignity. Yet, this matter has brought together Americans from all walks of life, faiths to protect the Standing Rock Tribe's lands and rights.
Jesus invites all of us regardless of the labels and situations in our lives to come to him and share at His table. The Eucharist is where we share in the Goodness of God as the Real Presence of Christ is given to us in the Bread and Wine of Holy Communion. As God is the Creator and Giver of all that is good, our sharing in the Sacrament of Christ's Presence, is a sharing God's extravagant love with one another.
Will you accept Jesus' invitation to come to His table?
Will you help welcome others to Jesus' table?
Amen.
Prayers
O God, because without you we are not able to please you,
mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct
and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen. (Proper 19. The Book of Common Prayer, p. 233).
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Human Family. The Book of Common Prayer, p.815).
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