She waited and waited for the bus…when it pulled up, she walked up the steps and searched for an empty seat in the back of the bus. She saw none and turned back around to the front of the bus where there were excess seats available. She chose one and sat down. A white man demanded that she give up her seat – even though there were other empty seats. She refused to surrender her seat to the white male passenger. She was Rosa Louisa Parks on a Montgomery Alabama bus, December 1, 1955. This simple act of sitting in the empty seat has become part of our history.
Such was the awkward situation in todays' Gospel. Today we hear a story full of tension. Jesus has been invited to the Chief Pharisee's home to share a meal with the Pharisees on the Sabbath. Not included in our reading today, the first thing Jesus does is to heal a sick man – something that was just not done on the Sabbath, much less at the home of the Chief Pharisee. Then Jesus has the gall to lecture his host and fellow guests on their seating selections at the table. Surely this added some discomfort to the meal. Finally, Jesus criticizes the Chief Pharisee's choice of dinner guests. And all this before the meal is served! Talk about a Tums moment!
Now, to put this event into perspective of Biblical times, the act of sharing food or meals was considered the most intimate demonstration of trust and respect for a relationship. Food is the one basic human need that supersedes all other distinctions of power. You could say that food is the equalizer among humanity. When hospitably sharing a meal 2000 years ago, one would not offend a host, fellow guests or share food with an enemy. This heightens the significance of Jesus dining at the Chief Pharisee's home even more. Another tradition common in biblical times (and a favorite of mine) was to leave an extra seat for the unknown guest. It was considered a mitzvah or a blessing to have the presence of an unexpected guest at one's meal. After all, what a blessing to be able to share a meal with newfound brothers or sisters! Hospitality was a common courtesy and the expectation then. The empty seat suggests abundance…excess…an everlasting supply. A beautiful metaphor for the gift of eternal grace that God has given us lowly sinners.
Now, the dictionary defines Hospitality as "Cordial and generous treatment, reception of or disposition toward guests." We see evidence of hospitality in our Lutheran liturgy, hymnody and the Scriptures. The hospitable frame of mind shows a pure love for humankind, however this becomes difficult when fear is present. When there is fear, it is hard to be open and loving. In todays reading of Hebrews, we heard "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid." We are all equal in the eyes of God….in God's house, all are welcome to share a meal. We will even say at our table today "uniting in one body people of every nation and tongue." We have sung "grace our table with your presence and give us a foretaste of the feast to come". We will sing "All who hunger never strangers seeker be a welcome guest" before we share a meal today.
Theologian Justo Gonzalez proposed that the Book of Acts demonstrates that the actions of the community are guided by the Holy Spirit. He believes the Holy Spirit "levels up" the strength of community so that love conquers fear… When the Holy Spirit is at work within the community, outreach is more proactive and broader to benefit the whole community. In fact Jesus has told us that the greatest commandments of all are: "you shall love your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your mind, and all your strength. The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Our community is our family, Holy Trinity…and Glenview…and Illinois…and United States…and North America…and the world.
Next Sunday is Hunger Sunday…today, the western world has an epidemic of obesity, whereas half of the world (3 billion people) live in what the UN calls "food deficit countries". What might we do to show love for our neighbor here in Glenview…across the oceans? How can we show hospitality to those we don't even know?
Think of your family now. Many of us have been part of such a meal when there was awkward discomfort. We tend to steer away from inviting those who repeatedly cause commotion or discomfort at our gatherings. We want our meals to be special – festive, funfilled perfect gatherings. But what about those who weren't invited? Who is here and who is missing? And most importantly who should be here? What about inviting Uncle Jack back to the family meal table? It's been awhile since he was with us for Thanksgiving – sometimes it's been so long that the reason why is even forgotten. Perhaps it is because he can't contribute a delicious dessert or beautiful bottle of wine or is it that he can't offer to host the next gathering? Or is it because since Aunt Jill died, no one knows what to say to him. Do you think the Chief Pharisee thought "Why did I invite this guy?" I wonder if Jesus was on his A List or B List? Perhaps the same reason that we implore Jesus to bless us with his presence in our mealtime prayers. To challenge our way of thinking – to show us the truth, to shake things up, to ask us to stretch ourselves just a little bit more…to take a lesser seat and help us remember hospitality of leaving the empty chair.
Did the Chief Pharisee leave an empty chair at that meal? For if he did, Jesus surely would have filled it with some of his outcast friends… a woman, an orphan, a resident alien…what about the empty seat at our table? Who might show up unexpectedly? What if they don't come because they feel different than us? What if they look or sound or smell different? When we share in the table today, we are guests of equal merit and stature in God's eyes. There are no special seats here…the privilege is ours as is the responsibility. It is our privilege to have been baptized into this community of faith… as it is our responsibility to leave the empty seat for those we do not expect. It is not our feast, it is God's and invitations are given out through his Son's death on the cross.
Jesus, too, saw mealtime as a time of inclusion. Food and drink represented generous sharing with one's community. Traditional wisdom is not in knowing the rules and passing judgment but in befriending all of God's children like the sinners that we are. The irony is that God's grace abounds whether we invite Jesus to our table or whether we select the best or worst seat at the table. Gods' presence is so abundant that it doesn't matter where we sit. What does matter is that we accept the gift, the body and blood of God's only son. There need be no expectation of reciprocity here – there is no way we could ever repay God's generosity and hospitality. All we can do is to share God's gift with others – remember to leave the empty seat. God only asks that we share the good news…with the guest, the unexpected visitor. How will you take the good news to others? Will you leave an empty seat at the table?
O Generous God, As we are thankful for the generosity that we have received, we pray for those who are as deserving but who haven't received yet. Let us remember that your grace is found in abundance and as we have received, you ask us to seek others to join our table. When we set the table, let us remember to confidently take the lesser seat…knowing that your loving presence will extend to even the furthest seat….we know that your table is limitless. May we remember those who Jesus has called us to serve and help us to generously leave an empty seat.
In Jesus' name we pray,
AMEN.
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