Jesus' Table Fellowship

Wednesday, June 27, 2007 -- Week of Proper 7

"Morning Reflections" is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117
An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at www.missionstclare.com
Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html

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Today's Readings for the Daily Office (p. 972)
Psalms 101, 109: 1-4 (5-19) 20-30 (morning) 119:121-144 (evening)
1 Samuel 7:2-17
Acts 6:1-15
Luke 22:14-23


The radical table fellowship of Jesus was one of the unique characteristics of his ministry. In a culture where eating was a public event, what happened at his table was profound. In Hebrew tradition, it was important to take care when dining. There were of course the kosher laws of purity, addressing the care and cleansing of the pots, plates, cups, knives, forks and other utensils of the kitchen and dining. Kosher laws governed the butchering process and the designation of clean and unclean foods. Sabbath traditions limited when food could be prepared.

But beyond that was the custom that eating together established relationships. To eat with someone was a public sign of acceptance of that person. It was expected that a relationship created at the table was a lifelong obligation. And because the Jewish faith made moral action and ritual observance central to their religious practice, it was absolutely forbidden for an observant Jew to eat with someone of compromised morals or ritual purity. To do so would be to become impure. To do so would compromise one's morals. To do so would condone immorality, sin, and religious avoidance.

Jesus ate with sinners. Jesus ate with people who did not or could not observe the Torah. We have stories of Jesus eating with tax collectors, with people possessed by demons, with non-Jews, with women, with foreigners, with the un-clean and immoral. His table was a scandal. We recently read the story of when he was at the home of an observant Pharisee. A woman who was a sinner came into the meal and washed Jesus' feet with her tears. Jesus welcomed her care. The other guests were shocked. His table fellowship was different. It was one of the most distinctive characteristics of his life.

So on the eve of his arrest, Jesus is at table with his disciples. It is his last chance to give them something that will sustain them for the coming challenges. Luke says that it is a Passover meal, a holy remembrance of God's deliverance of the Jews from slavery in Egypt. Jesus announces the coming kingdom: "I tell you that from now on I will not drink the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." He takes bread and identifies it with his "body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." He takes the cup of wine. "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood." He connects his death with the old covenant marked by the blood of the Passover, which gave freedom and identity to Israel.

On Easter Sunday, "When he was at table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him." (Luke 24:30-31) It was at table that the disciples truly understood that Jesus was still alive and that his Spirit would continue to empower them.

Since that evening the commandment "Do this in remembrance of me" has been obeyed, and generations of Christians have known him in the breaking of the bread. Our table is to be one of radical fellowship and hospitality. It is to be a place of radical welcome, forgiveness, inclusion, and nurture. No wonder the Eucharist has been the characteristically Christian form of worship for over 2000 years. It is the action that most centrally captures Jesus' life, death and resurrection.

Lowell
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The Rev. Lowell Grisham
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, AR

The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

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