Come, Lord Jesus, and Be our Guest

 08 28 2022 Sermon

Proverbs 25:6-7; Luke 14:1,7-14

I want to begin where I will end, with this common table prayer. Many of you know it, or variations of it. “Come Lord Jesus, be our guest, and let these gifts to us be blessed.  And may there be a goodly share on every table everywhere. Amen”

The Gospel story is about Jesus at a meal, a common event in the Gospel of Luke. Jesus’ message in this story is quite pointed. Don’t act like the most important person at an event. Indeed, when you throw a party, invite the poorest people in the community. Your reward will be God’s blessing in the resurrection.

I shared at the Wednesday Noon Prayer Zoom that I was struggling to narrow down all my thoughts about these texts. So, let me list some of those thoughts. Some thoughts centered on the imbalance of wealth, in the US and around the world.

·       In the Magnificat, Mary proclaims that Jesus feeds the hungry and lets the rich go away hungry.

·       The contrast between gated communities of million-dollar homes and streets filled with garbage and poor people.

·       A 1978 book by Ron Sider called Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger.

But we all know this. In this congregation we have a diverse community, and we intentionally care for those on the poorer spectrum of life. So, it doesn’t make sense to talk a lot about that.

Some of my thoughts focus on the way Jesus welcomes all people. I talk often about this, too. This is where these memories came into my mind:

·       Look Who’s Coming to Dinner, a movie from 1967 with Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Sidney Poitier, and Katharine Houghton, in which a young woman brings her black fiancé home to her parents.

·       The song from 2010 by Brandon Heath in which he prays to God, “Give me your eyes so I can see … everything that I am missing.”

So, that leaves the thoughts about dining with Jesus, and how to welcome people to the table.  

·       What if these particular Pharisees are not Jesus’ enemies? What if they really want to learn more from Jesus? What if they are open to changing their beliefs?

·       My effort to meet with people in a congregation over a meal, so I can get to know them better, and learn about the congregation, as well as get something to eat, since I obviously love to eat.

·       Jesus is both the host and the guest at Holy Communion. He also joins us at all our meals

·       And, then, this common prayer: Come Lord Jesus, be our guest, and let these gifts to us be blessed.  And may there be a goodly share on every table everywhere. Amen

Which takes us back to the way Jesus welcomes all to his table.  You know and I know that when the Church gathers, the doors and the table should be open to all comers. None should be turned away. And I am proud to say that so many of ULC ministries involve reaching out to those who have less than most of us, including putting food on their tables.

I have a couple stories, both true experiences, that express how to welcome, or not welcome, people to our tables.

In one city early in my ministry, as I stopped at the bank, I noticed a group selling fresh apple cider and I decided to get some. As I pulled up, I saw a sign saying that the group was called Kiwanis. I asked the guy who came to my car, “What is Kiwanis?” The guy (let’s call him Greg) gave a brief response. It may have been the Kiwanis mission statement: “Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.” Greg also gave me his card and invited me to a meeting.

I got to the meeting and showed the people at the door the card Greg gave me. Someone guided me to his table. It was a fairly large group, with 6 or 8 round tables. As people joined us, I was introduced to each person.

The meeting started and no one spoke to me, told me what was happening, or asked about me. I left and never returned. As God-incidences happen, I later met Mike, who was active in another Kiwanis Club, and now, so am I.

… Another story: Pastor Bob looked like a hippy, with long hair and worn-out jeans. He told me the story of how he came to serve the congregation in Carefree, Arizona. He had started his ministry as a street pastor, working with those who were addicted and experiencing homelessness. He loved that ministry, and never imagined doing anything else.

But one day, the Bishop called him into the office. “Bob,” he said, “I want you to be the pastor at the church in Carefree.” Bob was surprised and tried to resist. “I love working with street people. Why do you want me at Carefree? Those folks all have so much money!”

The Bishop replied, “Rich folks need pastors, too.” After some time of prayer, Bob accepted the call to the church in Carefree, and retired from there many years later.

It doesn’t matter who we are, or what we do, Jesus joins us and wants us to remember he is there. When we are alone, Jesus shows up. When people gather, Jesus shows up. At the breakfast table, in our pajamas, Jesus shows up. At lunch in the restaurant, Jesus shows up. At the first day of classes and on exam day, Jesus shows up. In the alley with a donated to-go box of leftovers, Jesus shows up. It doesn’t matter who we are, or what kind of meal is being served, Jesus shows up.

So, it is right to always pray, “Come Lord Jesus, be our guest, and let these gifts to us be blessed.  And may there be a goodly share on every table everywhere. Amen”

As we share the meal we call Holy Communion, let’s remember that we are really having supper with Jesus, and give thanks for the blessing. Amen