Feasting with the Poor
Scripture Psalm 112 and Luke 14: 7-14
Preached by Linda Jo Peters ~ August 29, 2010
INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPTUREPsalm 112 is constructed as an acrostic poetic text. Each line begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. But it is more than a simple ten-verse poem set in an acrostic form for memorization. It is poem that lays out something of the distinctive qualities of those who would ascribe to the law of God and endeavor to live their lives by it. It breathes with an ethic that says there is a right course and a wrong path for human living.
1Praise the Lord! Happy are those who fear the Lord, who greatly delight in his commandments.
2Their descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever.
4They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright; they are gracious, merciful, and righteous.
5It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their affairs with justice.
6For the righteous will never be moved; they will be remembered forever.
7They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are firm, secure in the Lord.
8Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
9They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor; their righteousness endures forever; their horn is exalted in honor.
10The wicked see it and are angry; they gnash their teeth and melt away; the desire of the wicked comes to nothing.
Luke 14: 7-14
The social matrix of first-century life is on display in this passage, and we hear Jesus speak into this matrix both with communal wisdom and unexpected, even astonishing, advice… There is a theological truth that undergirds this passage and its very tangible social networks and exhortations: as God's people humble themselves and seek to live by a different social system marked by radical inclusion.
7When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. 8“When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; 9and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give this person your place,’ and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. 10But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. 11For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” 12He said also to the one who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. 13But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
SERMON
My mother-in-law, Nina, could set a wonderful table. Not only was the food great but the table was elegant. Crystal and real silverware, china from England: it was a joy to clean up. No, it really is true. I loved that time with her and my sister-in-laws. Talking over our days as these beautiful items were prepared for the next family event, which was often the following Sunday. Now we all live far apart and family meals are once a year event if then. What kind of table would we set if Jesus was coming to dinner? Who would we invite to attend? Well guest what? Next Sunday is communion and we are all invited to eat with Jesus. Who will you invite?
In this parable Jesus tells his host to invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. This is not just to make sure they eat, but to invite them to a banquet – a feast. Jesus is teaching us Kingdom behavior. In the Kingdom of God everyone is welcome. Today the Mission Committee has invited us to a party at Younity House. Younity House was created to provide permanent housing for people who have experienced homelessness do to mental health issues. It has ten apartments and was the dream of Rev. Don Mullens retired pastor of First Congregational Church. Last year was our first time in feasting with them. We all had fun together, but what was important was that we were their guests in their own backyard.
Children of God need to look for ways that turn the expected upside down. The wealthy feast with the poor, the comfortable make a place for the frightened and a little child will lead them. ( Isaiah 11:6) Get out the best china that you have not used for years and invited your friend who lost her husband last year to a high tea. The neighbor who lost his job, the child who broke your window, the family with too much furniture of the front porch invite out for a picnic. Perhaps they will join you at the Rally Day event on September 12. Jesus is saying stop worrying about what you need and want and be concerned about what others want and need. The surprise gift of a generous spirit is that your concerns will fade into the background. Be generous, be extravagantly generous and feast with the poor: the financially poor, the physically and mentally poor, and the spiritually poor. That covers about everyone!
Jesus looked at the behavior of the guests and pointed out “Whoa! That is not right and not good for you.” Then he said, “All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” In all humility make all of life a feast with God. Invite the new kid to lunch with you and your friends at school. Take the office complainer out after work and ask what is really going on in their lives. Offer to pray for him/her. And follow through, after a week in pray ask again how his/her life is now. Let your fear go, and welcome the stranger. “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (See: Hebrews 13:2)
Georgy Joseph shares this story in his blog:
It was fifty years ago, on a hot summer day, in the deep south. We lived on a dirt road, on a sand lot. We were, what was known as “dirt poor”. I had been playing outside all morning in the sand.
Suddenly, I heard a sharp clanking sound behind me and looking over my shoulder, my eyes were drawn to a strange sight! Across the dirt road were two rows of men, dressed in black and white, striped, baggy uniforms. Their faces were covered with dust and sweat. They looked so weary, and they were chained together with huge, black, iron chains. Hanging from the end of each chained row was a big, black, iron ball.
They were, as polite people said in those days, a “Chain Gang,” guarded by two, heavily armed, white guards. I stared at the prisoners as they settled uncomfortably down in the dirt, under the shade of some straggly trees. One of the guards walked towards me. Nodding as he passed, he went up to our front door and knocked. My mother appeared at the door, and I heard the guard ask if he could have permission to get water from the pump, in the backyard, so that “his men” could “have a drink”. My mother agreed, but I saw a look of concern on her face, as she called me inside.
I stared through the window as each prisoner was unchained from the line, to hobble over to the pump and drink his fill from a small tin cup, while a guard watched vigilantly. It wasn’t long before they were all chained back up again, with prisoners and guards retreating into the shade, away from an unrelenting sun.
I heard my mother call me into the kitchen, and I entered, to see her bustling around with tins of tuna fish, mayonnaise, our last loaf of bread, and two, big, pitchers of lemonade. In what seemed “a blink of an eye”, she had made a tray of sandwiches using all the tuna we were to have had for that night’s supper.
My mother was smiling as she handed me one of the pitchers of lemonade, cautioning me to carry it carefully” and to “not spill a drop.” Then, lifting the tray in one hand and holding a pitcher in her other hand, she marched me to the door, deftly opening it with her foot, and trotted me across the street.
She approached the guards, flashing them with a brilliant smile. “We had some leftovers from lunch,” she said, “and I was wondering if we could share with you and your men.” She smiled at each of the men, searching their dark eyes with her own eyes of “robin’s egg blue.”
Everyone started to their feet. “Oh no!” she said. “Stay where you are! I’ll just serve you!” Calling me to her side, she went from guard to guard, then from prisoner to prisoner, filling each tin cup with lemonade, and giving each man a sandwich.
It was very quiet, except for a “thank you, ma’am,” and the clanking of the chains. Very soon we were at the end of the line, my mother’s eyes softly scanning each face.
The last prisoner was a big man, his dark skin pouring with sweat, and streaked with dust. Suddenly, his face broke into a wonderful smile, as he looked up into my mother’s eyes, and he said, “Ma’am, I’ve wondered all my life if I’d ever see an angel, and now I have! Thank you!”
Again, my mother’s smile took in the whole group. “You’re all welcome!” she said. “God bless you.” Then we walked across to the house, with empty tray and pitchers, and back inside. Soon, the men moved on, and I never saw them again. The only explanation my mother ever gave me, for that strange and wonderful day, was that I “remember, always, to entertain strangers, for by doing so, you may entertain angels, without knowing.” Then, with a mysterious smile, she went about the rest of the day. I don’t remember what we ate for supper, that night. I just know it was served by an angel.
What a great example of generosity this woman gave her child while she was feasting with the poor. May God provide amazing encounters for each of you and may you be unafraid to feast with the poor. Amen.
Resources:
Commentary on Psalm by Paul O. Myhre
Commentary on Gospel by Jeannine K. Brown
www.turnbacktogod.com/story-entertaining-angels/
