LUKE 14:15-24 | ROOM ENOUGH FOR ALL

ROOM ENOUGH FOR ALL

LUKE 14:15-24

OCTOBER 15, 2017

I WANT TO TAKE YOU BACK, FOR A MOMENT, TO A LITTLE OVER FIVE WEEKS AGO, WHEN HURRICANE IRMA WAS BEARING DOWN ON FLORIDA, AND WE WERE FORCED TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS AS TO WHAT TO DO; WHERE TO GO.

SOME STAYED: HUNKERING DOWN AT HOME, OR BUNKERING IN WITH FRIENDS AND/OR FAMILY IN KEY WEST AND THE LOWER KEYS.

OTHERS OF US EVACUATED: SOME TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN OTHER PARTS OF FLORIDA OR ELSEWHERE; SOME BORROWING ACCOMMODATIONS FROM FAMILY, FRIENDS, OR BUSINESS ASSOCIATES.

STILL OTHERS, FINDING PLACES TO RENT, HOTELS IN WHICH TO STAY, CAMPING SITES FOR OUR RV’S AND MOTORHOMES.

ALL OF US LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO LAND.

NOW I WANT YOU TO THINK BACK TO THOSE DAYS, THOSE MOMENTS, AND IF POSSIBLE, TRY TO RECAPTURE THE SENSE OF RELIEF; THE JOY; THE HOPE, THE SECURITY, THE WELCOMING FEEL, OF HAVING A PLACE TO GO.

IN A HUMAN-INTEREST STORY FROM A FEW MONTHS AGO, I READ OF SARAH CUMMINS AND LOGAN ARAUJO WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO GET MARRIED.

THE TWO YOUNG PEOPLE HAD BEEN PLANNING A DREAM WEDDING FOR TWO YEARS – A $30,000 EXTRAVAGANZA.

A WEEK BEFORE THE WEDDING, SARAH CALLED IT OFF (SHE PREFERRED NOT TO SAY WHY) AND BOTH WERE LEFT WITH BROKEN HEARTS AND A NON-REFUNDABLE CONTRACT FOR A VENUE AND A PLATED DINNER FOR 170 GUESTS AT THE RITZ CHARLES IN CARMEL, INDIANA.

“IT WAS REALLY DEVASTATING,” SAID CUMMINS, A 25-YEAR-OLD PHARMACY STUDENT AT PURDUE UNIVERSITY.

“I CALLED EVERYONE, CANCELLED, APOLOGIZED, CRIED, CALLED VENDORS, CRIED SOME MORE, AND THEN FELT REALLY SICK ABOUT JUST THROWING AWAY ALL THE FOOD I ORDERED FOR THE RECEPTION.”

SHE DECIDED TO BRING SOME PURPOSE TO THE COUPLE’S PAIN.  AFTER DISCUSSING IT WITH ARAUJO, SHE WORKED WITH EVENT PLANNER MADDIE LADOW AT THE RITZ CHARLES TO REARRANGE THE RECEPTION AREA, THEN STARTED CONTACTING HOMELESS SHELTERS IN INDIANAPOLIS AND NOBLESVILLE AND INVITING RESIDENTS TO HER PARTY.

“WE’RE DOING ALL THE SAME STUFF,” SHE SAID, “JUST ARRANGING THE TABLES DIFFERENTLY, SO THERE’S NO HEAD TABLE FOR THE WEDDING PARTY, NO GIFT OR CAKE TABLE.”

SHE AND HER MOTHER ARRIVED EARLY ON SATURDAY TO SET UP THE CENTERPIECES THEY DESIGNED THEMSELVES – GOLD EIFFEL TOWER VASES WITH ROSES.

THE DINNER TOOK PLACE IN THE VENUE’S ENCLOSED GARDEN, WITH 100+ GUESTS FROM THE DAYSPRING CENTER AND INDYSTAR HOMELESS SHELTER.

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, CHERYL HERZOG SAID, “I WAS SO TOUCHED THAT SARAH HAD TAKEN A PAINFUL EXPERIENCE AND TURNED IT INTO A JOYFUL ONE FOR FAMILIES IN NEED.

BEING HOMELESS IS STRESSFUL FOR AN ENTIRE FAMILY, AND I SUSPECT HAVING THE CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE A DELICIOUS MEAL WITH YOUR FAMILY IN A BEAUTIFUL SPACE LIKE THE RITZ CHARLES IS VERY SPECIAL FOR THEM.”

THE ONETIME BRIDE-TO-BE, AFTER ATTENDING THE DINNER, SAID SHE DOESN’T FEEL PARTICULARLY GENEROUS.

“I WILL AT LEAST HAVE SOME KIND OF HAPPY MEMORY TO PULL FROM.”

ARAUJO, DEVASTATED BY THE CANCELLATION OF THE WEDDING, AGREED THAT IT WAS “A BEAUTIFUL THING” FOR THE HOMELESS TO ENJOY THE DINNER AND MUSIC THEY HAD PLANNED TOGETHER.

“THEN JESUS SAID TO THEM, ‘SOMEONE GAVE A GREAT DINNER AND INVITED MANY.  AT THE TIME OF THE DINNER HE SENT HIS SERVANTS TO THOSE WHO HAD BEEN INVITED, “COME; FOR EVERYTHING IS READY NOW.” BUT THEY ALL BEGAN TO MAKE EXCUSES.’”

ONE HAD BUSINESS TO DO; ANOTHER WANTED TO TRY OUT HIS NEW SET OF OXEN; ANOTHER EXPLAINED THAT HE HAD JUST GOTTEN MARRIED; NONE OF THEM CAME.

THE SERVANTS RETURNED TO THEIR EMPLOYER, EXPLAINING THAT NO ONE WAS COMING: AND IN HIS ANGER, HE INSTRUCTED THE SERVANTS TO “GO OUT AT ONCE INTO THE STREETS AND THE LANES OF THE TOWN AND BRING IN THE POOR, THE CRIPPLED, THE BLIND, AND THE LAME…”

AND ONCE THEY HAD DONE THIS, THE SERVANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS STILL ROOM FOR MORE, AND HE SENT THEM OUT AGAIN, TO FIND OTHERS TO ATTEND.

REMEMBER, THIS IS A PARABLE; IT DIDN’T REALLY HAPPEN; EXCEPT IT DID, IN SARAH’S CASE; BUT WHAT JESUS IS DOING IS USING A STORY TO TELL HIS FOLLOWERS WHAT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE.

GREAT BANQUETS, WEDDING FEASTS, HUGE TABLES WITH ALL GATHERED ROUND, THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE IMAGES JESUS, AND THE BIBLICAL WRITERS, USE TO DESCRIBE THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN ABOVE; AND JUST MAYBE, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN BELOW; HERE AND NOW.

A GREAT TABLE; A PLACE FOR EVERYONE; A WELCOME TO ALL.

CHANCES ARE, OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS OR SO, YOU’VE LIKELY SEEN THE WALMART COMMERCIAL ENTITLED: MANY CHAIRS, ONE TABLE.

IT BEGINS WITH RANDOM SCENES OF PEOPLE LEAVING THEIR HOMES, APARTMENTS, WORKPLACES, AND ELSEWHERE; EACH IS CARRYING OR PUSHING A DIFFERENT KIND OF CHAIR; AND EACH IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF PERSON;

WOMEN, MEN, CHILDREN; PEOPLE OF COLOR; SINGLES, COUPLES, AND FAMILIES; PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES; PEOPLE WHO LOOK AND SOUND DIFFERENTLY FROM ONE ANOTHER;

ALL OF THEM GATHERING AT A HUGE BANQUET TABLE, LADEN WITH VARIOUS TYPES OF FOOD, IN A LARGE FIELD OUTDOORS.

ALL OF THIS TO THE MUSIC OF THE YOUNGBLOODS: “COME ON PEOPLE NOW, SMILE ON YOUR BROTHER.  EVERYBODY GET TOGETHER, TRY TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER RIGHT NOW.”

A PLACE FOR EVERYONE AT THE TABLE.

CAN I GET YOU TO GO BACK AGAIN, TO FIVE WEEKS AGO, AND WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO HAVE A PLACE TO GO IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM;

WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO FIND A PLACE AT THE TABLE OF FRIENDS OR LOVED ONES; OR EVEN JUST TO FIND A MCDONALDS THAT WAS OPEN;

A HOTEL THAT HAD ONE ROOM LEFT, AND WOULD TAKE YOUR PETS; A GAS STATION THAT ACTUALLY HAD GAS; A PLACE STILL SELLING ICE.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO BE WELCOMED TO THE TABLE?  TO FIND SHELTER FROM THE STORM?  TO BE HEARTILY AND HEARTFELT-LY WELCOMED IN BY LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS?

PERHAPS, WE WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO REPAY THOSE WHO WERE SO KIND TO US, SO LOVING, SO WELCOMING, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO PAY IT FORWARD?

TO MAKE OTHERS FEEL AS WELCOMED AS WE FELT?  TO MAKE ANOTHER FEEL AS LOVED AS WE WERE LOVED?  TO INVITE OTHERS IN THE STORMS OF THEIR LIVES, HOME; TO THE TABLE; INTO OUR LIVES; INTO OUR NATION?

LIKE JESUS PARABLE, WE CAN TAKE THIS SERMON FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH; WE CAN APPLY THIS AT WHATEVER LEVEL, AND TO WHATEVER SUBJECT HAPPENS TO BE ON OUR MINDS, OR IN OUR HEARTS, RIGHT NOW.

IN WHAT PLACE, AND AT WHAT TABLE, ARE WE IN NEED OF WELCOMING OTHERS RIGHT NOW?  OF BEING WELCOMED TO, OURSELVES?

FOR YOU, PERHAPS, JESUS’ PARABLE AND TEACHINGS HERE, ARE SHAPING YOUR THOUGHTS, OPINIONS, IDEAS, AND ACTIONS, ON WHAT OUR NATION NEEDS TO DO ABOUT THE COMPLICATED ISSUE OF IMMIGRATION.

OR MAYBE, FOR YOU, THIS IS MORE PERSONAL; DIRECTLY IMPACTING YOUR LIFE;

MAYBE THERE IS SOMEONE FROM WHOM YOU ARE ESTRANGED, A FAMILY MEMBER, A DEAR FRIEND, FOR WHOM IT IS NOW TIME THAT YOU; YES, YOU, MAKE A PLACE FOR THEM AT YOUR TABLE.

PERHAPS, MAKING ROOM FOR ALL, MEANS THAT IT IS TIME WE, OR OUR CHURCH, OR OUR COMMUNITY, FIND WAYS TO BROADEN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF EACH OTHER;

LEARNING WHAT IT MEANS TO WALK IN ANOTHER PERSON’S SHOES;

AND OPENING OURSELVES TO THE IDEA THAT ITS TIME WE MAKE THE TABLE BIGGER.

MAYBE ITS TIME TO PULL OUT THOSE DUSTY OLD LEAVES FROM THE CLOSET, AND MAKE OUR TABLES BIGGER TO ACCOMMODATE OTHERS; TO INVITE MORE.

I PREDICT, AND MANY OF YOU ARE WORKING ON IDEAS HOW TO DO THIS, AND OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS SEEM MORE COMMITTED THAN EVER, TO FINDING WAYS TO ADDRESS THE HOUSING SHORTAGE IN OUR AREA;

ESPECIALLY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING – TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THAT IS;

AND MAYBE, SOON, WE’LL BE GETTING TO A PLACE WHERE THOSE WHO ARE BEING WELCOMED INTO HOMES THEY CAN ACTUALLY AFFORD, WILL KNOW THE JOY WE EXPERIENCED WHEN SOMEONE OPENED THEIR HOME TO US.

I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH TWO IMAGES; POWERFUL IMAGES; RELIGIOUS IMAGES, IN FACT; ONE FROM JUDAISM, THE OTHER FROM CHRISTIANITY.

YOU MAY KNOW, OR PERHAPS HAVE EXPERIENCED, EITHER IN THE HOME OF JEWISH FRIENDS, OR PERHAPS IN A CHURCH IN WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN A PART, THE JEWISH SEDER – THE PASSOVER MEAL.

IT IS CELEBRATED ANNUALLY, BOTH IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE JEWS’ DELIVERANCE FROM EGYPT UNDER MOSES, AS WELL AS A PRESENT REALITY OF BEING TOGETHER, AND A FUTURE HOPE FOR THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH.

AS YOU KNOW, THIS MEAL IS, AS ALL MEALS ARE, REALLY, FRAUGHT WITH MEANING AND SYMBOLISM; THE FOODS EATEN, THE WINE THAT IS DRUNK, THE PLATES THAT ARE SERVED.

AMONG THESE SYMBOLS, YOU MAY REMEMBER, IS AN EMPTY CHAIR; AN EXTRA CUP OF WINE, FROM WHICH NO ONE DRINKS; AND A MOMENT NEAR THE END OF THE MEAL, WHERE THE YOUNGEST FAMILY MEMBER GOES AND OPENS THE DOOR.

ALL THREE OF THESE THINGS ARE FOR THE PROPHET ELIJAH.  THE EMPTY CHAIR, A PLACE FOR ELIJAH TO COME, AND SIT AT TABLE, WITH THE FAMILY.

THE CUP OF WINE, CALLED ELIJAH’S CUP, IS TO BE DRUNK BY HIM IN THE PRESENCE OF BELIEVERS.

AND THE OPENING OF THE DOOR, A WELCOME INTO THE FAMILY, BUT ALSO A HOPE, PREDICATED ON THE IDEA THAT THIS WILL BE THE YEAR THAT ELIJAH COMES, ANNOUNCING THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH.

WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED, AND ELIJAH IS NOT THERE, THE FAMILY RETURNS TO THE TABLE, AND BEGINS SINGING OF THEIR HOPE THAT NEXT YEAR, WILL BE THE YEAR ELIJAH COMES, USHERING IN THE MESSIAH’S ARRIVAL, AND THE FULFILLMENT OF GOD’S KINGDOM.

THE POINT OF ALL OF THIS, THIS MORNING, FOR US, IS THE IDEA OF THE EMPTY CHAIR, A PLACE AT THE TABLE, AN AWAITING CUP, AN OPEN DOOR.

PERHAPS, THIS SHOULD BE OUR THOUGHT TOO, LITERALLY, PRACTICALLY, SPECIFICALLY, AT OUR OWN FAMILY TABLE; AS A PLACE OF WELCOME;

BUT MORE GENERALLY, IN ALL THE OTHER WAYS, AND MORE, THAT WE’VE MENTIONED HERE THIS MORNING.

OF WHAT IT MEANS FOR EVERYONE TO HAVE A PLACE AT THE TABLE, WHATEVER TABLE THAT MAY BE;

THE FACT THAT ALL SHOULD BE INVITED AND WELCOMED; THAT TOGETHER, WE ARE TO SHARE THE CUP OF SALVATION; THAT THIS IS WHAT MAKES FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

THE SECOND IMAGE IS ONE WITH WHICH WE ARE PROBABLY MORE FAMILIAR:

ONE: BECAUSE IT IS PART OF OUR OWN TRADITION;

AND TWO: BECAUSE WE SEEM TO MAKE A HUGE DEAL OF IT EVERY TIME WE CELEBRATE COMMUNION.

IN FACT, YOU MAY HAVE WONDERED WHY WE SEEM TO OVER EMPHASIZE IT.

EACH COMMUNION SERVICE, YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED, AND SEEN, AND HEARD SOME THINGS AS WE BEGIN OUR COMMUNION TOGETHER.

FIRST, AS THE MINISTER, I NEVER STAND DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE TABLE.

WITHIN OUR PARTICULAR TRADITION THIS IS MEANT TO SYMBOLIZE EQUAL ACCESS TO THE TABLE; THAT IS, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO COME THROUGH ME, THE MINISTER, TO GET TO CHRIST’S TABLE.

SECONDLY, YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED HOW MUCH EMPHASIS I PUT ON MY INVITATION TO THE TABLE:

ALWAYS REMINDING US, AND OUR GUESTS, THAT THIS IS NOT A TABLE OF OUR CONGREGATION, OR OUR DENOMINATION, BUT THAT IT IS CHRIST’S TABLE, AND ALL ARE WELCOME TO COME, AND PARTICIPATE IN THE LORD’S SUPPER.

THIRDLY, THERE’S SOMETHING MISSING; WHICH PROBABLY GOES UNNOTICED, SINCE IT’S NOT HERE: THERE IS NO GATE, NO FENCE, NO RAILING, NO WALL AROUND OUR TABLE;

AGAIN, THIS IS MEANT TO SHOW A COMPLETE AND OPEN ACCESS TO CHRIST’S TABLE FOR ALL BELIEVERS.

NO INNER SANCTUM; NO SEPARATION FROM THE TABLE WITH THE PEOPLE; NO FENCING OFF THE TABLE FOR ONLY A SELECT FEW; BUT TOTAL ACCESS.

FINALLY, YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED WE SERVE EACH OTHER.

WE BELIEVE IN THE “PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS” – IN OTHER WORDS, THAT WE ARE PRIESTS, MINISTERS, TO ONE ANOTHER.

OUR ELDERS SERVE YOU, AND WHEN WE PASS THE ELEMENTS, YOU SERVE EACH OTHER;

AND MAYBE YOU HAVE NOTICED, AT THE END, I SERVE THE ELDERS, AND THEN THEY SERVE ME.

IT IS A SUBTLE, BUT IMPORTANT MESSAGE, THAT WE ARE IN THIS THING TOGETHER; WE ARE MINISTERS TOGETHER; WE ARE A PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS;

AND THAT AT THIS TABLE, ESPECIALLY AT THIS TABLE: THERE’S ROOM ENOUGH FOR ALL!

BUT FOR US, AS CHRISTIANS, AS BELIEVERS IN GOD, IT CANNOT BE JUST THIS TABLE – BUT ALL TABLES, WHATEVER THE CONNOTATION:

“FOR I WAS HUNGRY AND YOU FED ME; THIRSTY, AND YOU GAVE ME DRINK; A STRANGER, AND YOU WELCOMED ME; NAKED, AND YOU CLOTHED ME; SICK, AND YOU CARED FOR ME; IN PRISON, AND YOU VISITED ME.”

MANY CHAIRS – MANY PEOPLES – ONE TABLE;

A PLACE FOR EVERYONE;

ROOM ENOUGH FOR ALL!