Sunday, August 28, 2016

God's Party People

GOSPEL  Luke 14:1, 7-14
The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke…

1On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely.
…  7When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. 8“When you are CALLED by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been CALLED by your host; 9and the host who CALLED 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 CALLED, 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 CALLED him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not CALL your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may CALL you in return, and you would be repaid. 13But when you give a banquet, CALL 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.”

The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you O Christ.


Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Grace to you and peace from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
When was the last time you threw a party?  Maybe it was a big bash for a graduation or a birthday or anniversary?  Or maybe it was a backyard barbeque with a few neighbors.  Take a few seconds and remember that party…  What kind of prep went into it?  Decorations?  Yardwork? Cleaning?  Food?  What kind of love and care did you pour into that event to make it enjoyable for the people who were coming over?  How did you invite people?  Emails? Phone calls?  Paper invites?  Knocking on their door?

You know, we are party people.  God is big on parties.

The last two weeks, we tried to throw a party here at Bethlehem.  We set up our tents in the parking lot of the Andrew J. Petro State pool over in Southbridge, we got tables, chairs and signs to be sure people could find us.  We made tickets to the pool available for any kids who came to our lunch party.  And we even bought T-Shirts so we could show our unity and pride as Jesus-people with our Episcopalian, UCC and Federated friends.  We tried to throw a Jesus-party.  The kind he tells us to throw here in this scripture story: where everyone is invited to the table, even people we don’t know, even people who are hungry and tired and weary and different than us.

It was an experiment.  And it worked on many levels: town leadership, coordination with the school who offered to provide the meals, YMCA and with our fellow congregations to coordinate hosts at the tables for meals and crafts.  But, whether it is good or bad, we don’t usually judge our parties by how many people helped make it happen, we judge it by how many showed up!  And our attendance was 14, 20, 6 & 8.  Not what we hoped the first week.

And so here I stand today, listening to Jesus, eating my own dose of humble pie for trying to sit at the head table rather than sitting where I should have started, with the people who need food.

If I had started there, I might have realized that the people who need the food have eaten these same meals for 8 weeks before we show up on the scene and eating it again is just not that appealing.  If I had started there, I might have seen how our flyer that went out to every active program earlier in the summer still can’t speak the invitation to those who don’t read English.  If I had started there I would have spoken to people in the neighborhood more than I spoke to people in leadership in the town. Because I am sure they could tell me what it is they need more than anyone else.
It was a noble effort and a worthwhile experiment, because I learned something, and I hope by sharing this all with you, we will all learn something about how to do the ministry to which Jesus calls us.
And that is the key word: Call.  When I studied the gospel this week with my fellow pastors I learned that the word translated “Invite,” as it is printed in the NRSV, and in your bulletin, might more accurately be translated “Call.”  And that word is used no less than 8 times in this short passage.  A word that would be used when God calls a prophet to speak God’s word to the people, or when Jesus called the disciples to follow him. Jesus is encouraging us to call out to the people we see in need of him and give a feast!  Not just a luncheon or a dinner, but a Banquet!  Treat these who are not our brothers and sisters and uncles and cousins just yet, treat them as if they are our family and our greatest joy.

The call, the invitation, is about the relationship.  We call out on the street to those we care about, even if we do not yet know them.  We call in to the conversation those whose voices matter most to us.  We call out to those who we want to serve and listen, and care, and become like friends and family, and then we know what kind of service we can do together.

Funny story: the Holy Spirit gave me that chance.  I stopped my car on the street that first Monday to ask teenagers if they wanted to join us the next day: free food, free pool pass… wish I could change that moment.  I almost got out of the car, but I didn’t.  It was 95 degrees outside and I didn’t want to leave the air conditioning.  I rolled my window back up.  But what if I had gotten out of the car?
The ministry to which Jesus calls us is to CALL/Invite First.  Don’t just organize.  Call out to those who might want what we have to offer.  Insist we want to share it.  Insist there is no requirement for getting it.  Insist there is no hidden agenda or payback to come.  Just call out to the teenagers on the street (before we make a plan, in time to make friends) and say: Hey, want some food?  What kind?  Where should we hold this party?  How could we help make it happen?

Then, maybe, we do it together, instead of having a party all alone.  

Because here is the thing… I know you, Bethlehem.  You are serious about your mission: feed, clothe, shelter.  I know, I’ve tried to get you to move towards a mission to kids and families in today’s crazy world… but you won’t have it!  You want to feed, clothe and shelter people!

If we are serious about our mission, and I believe we are, then Jesus is talking directly to us.  How do we be in community with the people we are serving? How do listen first, plan second.  I certainly need your help with this, I tend to do the opposite.  How do we move from “them” to becoming “us” together?  Especially when we struggle to see Southbridge as a town as good as our own.

I have two ways to start listening and getting to know our neighbors today: First, Karen, Michelle and I are trying to learn Spanish.  Let one of us know if you want to join us.  We are seeking a teacher and a time. Second is more immediate: take a moment to invite someone here at Bethlehem for a one on one.  The Council has begun doing this with one another, and I do it all the time with you – now’s your chance to get to know your fellow churchmembers better.  Take 30-45 minutes and take a walk with someone here.  Don’t do it on Sunday morning, but some other time. Ask questions about their life and listen to their story.  Then do it again and they will listen to you… it’s the very important first step in knowing each other and what God calls each and every one of us to.

Maybe we forget, maybe I forgot when it came to this pool lunch ministry – or any of our ministries!…This is all Jesus’ party.  Jesus is the host, we are just acting on his behalf.  Jesus is the one who wants to feed, shelter and clothe, and will with or without us, but there’s no use just sitting around being useless.  Jesus is the one who throws a banquet, giving us everything, even his very own life, his own body, around this table every week.  Remember, we don’t do this stuff to be good people.  We only do this stuff because it’s what God does!  Invites US.  Us who are not divine, to his heavenly table.  God goes out into the streets and calls out to us – Hey You!  Friend!  Can I talk to you?  I have this amazing party I want to throw and I am hoping you can come.  I know you, so I’d like it to be just the way you like it!  Join me!  Let’s celebrate life together – you and me.

Let’s celebrate life with God.  Come to the banquet table to be fed. We are God’s party people and This is our party. Amen.