Exodus 12:1-14; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17, 31b-35
I
have been thinking about family dinners lately as Mike and I made plans to have
Easter lunch with our son and his family near Tampa. And, as usual, my mind went
on a bit of a journey, and ended up at the 1967 movie Guess Who’s Coming to
Dinner? An interracial couple meet the parents for the first time, and it
goes as well as could be expected. I was thinking about this movie title in
connection with the various meals that are mentioned in tonight's readings.
…
It was over 3,000 years ago in Egypt that Moses instructed the Israelites to
prepare a special dinner. Take a yearling lamb and slaughter it, and prepare it
as your supper. Remember to save the blood. Plan to have no leftovers, so share
your meal with another family if your family is small. Dress as if you are ready
to take a road trip early in the morning. After supper, paint the blood on the doorways.
The blood will be a sign to God that you are an Israelite, and the plague that will
come tonight will pass over your house.
Since then, Jews have observed this night of Passover as the
most important night in their faith. It is a constant sign of God’s saving
actions on their behalf, and everything since then has been affected by it.
And
since then, traditions have developed that help remind Jews of this night.
Special plates are marked with the various foods that express the meaning of
God’s saving acts – bitter herbs to remember how the slaves wept bitter tears,
apple and nut salad to resemble the bricks they were forced to build, a lamb
bone to remember the sacrifice offered as they prepared to leave. An empty
place is always set, in case Elijah chooses to show up. And guests are always
welcome.
Who’s coming to dinner? The ancient Israelites, modern day
Jews, the possibility of Elijah, and any invited guests, Jewish or Gentile.
… In the upper room, as John tells the
story of Jesus, we often think of it as a Passover meal. It is that, as
Matthew, Mark and Luke tell the story. But John rearranges the events and days
to match his own point of view. In John’s Gospel, this meal is the day before Passover,
so Jesus can be crucified at the same time as the lambs are slaughtered, making
him the Lamb of God.
Jesus gives a lengthy sermon. He pulls together all he has
taught them, reminding them especially to pray and trust. He promises that
although he will be leaving them, he will send the Advocate, the Holy Spirit,
to be with them in his place. He calls on them to love each other and to love
all others, in the same way he has loved them.
And then, he does something astonishing. He removes his outer
clothing and grabs a towel and a bowl of water. He invites them all to have
their feet washed. Peter is the only one to resist. I think,
Peter thinks Jesus is too special, and he – Peter – is so unworthy, that it is
shameful for Jesus to do such a thing. But Jesus insists. Peter is the only
one, it seems, who resists this loving, and subservient action.
Let’s think about who is in the room this night. Most
paintings of the last supper show Jesus at the center, appropriately, and the
disciples – all men – ranged on either side of him. But, there are frequent
mentions in the Gospels of women as followers along with the men. And some of
the disciples likely have children.
So, this painting by Bhodan Piasecki is probably more accurate.
It’s called A Place at the Table. Jesus is at the center, and the disciples
are ranged around the low table, seated on cushions. Everyone has a cup,
probably of wine. A few children are squeezed between some of the men, and
several women are at the table as well. On the floor, in the lower left corner,
is a large bowl and towel. https://www.coracletrust.org.uk/lent-2024-1/2024/3/27/a-place-at-the-table
Who’s coming to dinner? Jesus, a number of male disciples
and their families, some women, and some children. And all of them with feet to
be washed.
…
In Corinth, Paul’s first letter scolds the wealthy believers for having a
dinner party for their peers without inviting the poorer believers, who often
came hungry after working all day. Paul declares, all should be welcome at your
table!
The resolution of this conflict was that meals were held
separately from worship and the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. Everyone ate
before arriving for worship. Probably not how Jesus would have done it! Significantly,
in our small excerpt from 1 Corinthians, Paul passes on to us the original
wording for the Words of Institution, the words we still use today.
Who has come to dinner in Corinth? A wide range of folks.
Wealthy and poor, slave and free, Jew and Gentile, all still working on how to
think of each other as equal in Jesus’ eyes.
… A quick story. In 1987, I was privileged to
tour Eastern Europe with Women of the ELCA. One of our stops was in Warsaw,
Poland, on Maundy Thursday. I think this picture of Holy Trinity is the church
we were in.
We were able to join the congregation for worship. The
pattern of worship was familiar, though we didn’t understand a word that was
spoken. When it came time for communion, everyone gathered around the chancel
like a crowd waiting for Jesus to touch us. The ushers helped us understand
that we should follow the crowd. We were all together, elbow to elbow, back to
front, waiting for our turn to receive the body and blood of Jesus, just as we
do here, but in a much less orderly fashion.
… So, who’s coming to dinner this evening? Members, families,
maybe some neighbors or visitors from other places. All are welcome tonight, to
participate as the Spirit of God leads them. Amen
