Preparing for Holy Week Part 4

 

When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve disciples, and while they were eating he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”  And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.”  Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” He replied, “You have said so.”  Matthew 26:20-25

 

Surely, not I, Rabbi…how many times have I said to Jesus that I won’t deny or desert or betray him?  How many times do I think I have my faith all figured out, neat and tidy and orderly, only to stumble on a curb of life that sends all the papers of faith flying chaotically and getting caught in the wind blowing in every direction. 

 

And yet, Judas had a place at the table.

And yet, Peter, Mr. Denial himself, had a place at the table.

And yet, all the other disciples who left skid marks in the sand as they ran away in fear, had a place at the table.

You and I have a place at the table.

Your enemy has a place at the table, so said 23^rd Psalm.

Your friends have a place at the table.

Creation has a place at the table.

Singing and silence have a place at the table.

Hope has a place at the table.  Hope, by the way, is that glimmer glimpse of God’s realm.

Lament has a place at the table. Lament, by the way, is the reality reminder that we/world are not the “we/world we long to be or God created us to be.

Love has a place at the table, because only love can help heal and reconcile ~ eye-for-eye justice will never really help even as we cling so tight to that way our knuckles turn white.

Joy has a place at the table, especially among the tears of things.

Justice has a place at the table, though it rarely looks or sounds like what we think it should, because we are not God…and God vulnerably faces the cross still today.

Silence has a place at the table, because no matter how many words I try to use to describe this expansive and evolving table, it is always elusive.

 

So pull up a chair, take a hunk of bread, drip it until it is drenched with juice.  Eat and taste God’s unconditional love and unceasing grace.  Eat and taste who you are ~ the body of Christ with others and all creation.  Seriously, lets celebrate communion right now together in preparation for Maundy Thursday a week from today.  Go get bread and juice or a donut and coffee or a cookie and milk or a biscuit and tea ~ something stable and a liquid that meet in a meaningful way to remind you of how Grace soaks our lives.  May God’s peace and presence give your heart rest this day and meet you in the “Hosannas” you pray.  Amen.