Sermon for 9/5/10
Favorite Things Summer Series
"God's Overflowing Hospitality"
This morning our "A Few of Our Favorite Things" summer sermon series comes to a close with two passages you all chose that are likely familiar in some way or another to many of us. Matthew's parable of judgment and Psalm 23's images of the shepherd are ones that come up in our lectionary readings from time to time. Psalm 23 is one of the most familiar passages in all of Scripture, and we often hear it's comforting words in the midst of our grief or journeys through the valley of the shadow death. As I have examined these two passages and reflected on this summer, perhaps there is another message there to add to a layer of understanding to these passages.
[Communion "Hospitality" Table from May 2nd]
If you remember back with me to May 2nd--for those of you who were here that first Sunday of Craig's Sabbatical--I started our Favorite Things Summer Worship Series with my favorite passage from Scripture--Luke 24's telling of the disciples on the road to Emmaus on the evening of the Resurrection. We were invited to consider the hospitality that Christ offers to the disciples who are journeying along life's road, and at the same time the hospitality the disciples offer to the stranger by welcoming him to their table for a meal. The stranger turns out to be Christ. As we reexamined Luke's text in light of our upcoming Sabbatical Summer, we were invited to be open to where we might see Christ in our midst? Where might we share Christ's love and Christ's welcome with those whom we encounter this summer--whether it was in worship here together or in our daily journeys beyond these doors? 
[In Luke 24, Christ was revealed in the breaking of the bread.]
The text nudged us to think about Hospitality--both God's gracious hospitality to us and our hospitality to each other and those we encounter. As I look back at the summer from today's 20/20 hindsight, I can affirm that hospitality was truly a theme for us this summer. Today we find ourselves at the end of this Sabbatical Summer. And like May 2nd, our texts today invite us to examine Hospitality. As I look at the passages that we heard this morning, I hear hospitality ring out in them in ways I had not heard before. The passage from Matthew was chosen for today before the Sabbatical began. Coincidence--I think not. Whether you have been around Raleigh Moravian this summer or not, there is an invitation for us in these texts, so let's take a look at these passages.
Psalm 23 is certainly heard in memorial services, and we often focus on our journeys through the valleys of darkness. It is comforting and reassuring when times are tough! But think with me for a minute about another setting where this Psalm is also appropriate--a setting at least that I hadn't thought about before, but I really resonate with now. It is possible that this Psalm was a type of prayer used around the thanksgiving table in worship for all God has provided. [1] Its a Psalm that celebrates God's hospitality toward God's people... people who have survived the journey through the desert, escaped their enemies, and found that God truly does provide all of their basic needs. The book of Exodus recounts how manna and quail appeared when they were hungry, water overflowed when they were thirsty, and how a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day lead them to the land that was promised. This Psalm expresses their thanksgiving for God's provisions and food they received--God's hospitality led them through the dark places and welcomed them safely to the promised land. "5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long." (Psalm 23:5-6)
For the author, to dwell in the house of the Lord means they are part of the community of faith. It takes this psalm from the purely personal to the greater community--a holy community. God is a gracious host, and we have much to give thanks for! As we pray this Psalm together, we claim the same hospitality from God--the hospitality of food and drink, shelter and security. And God follows us each day of our lives--or pursues us, as the text can be translated, with goodness and loving kindness that only God can give. [2]
The Psalm proclaims our cup overflows. We have more than enough to go around. Not only does God provide, but we are given more than we expect or need. It reminds me of the saying about our outlook on life--is the cup half full or half empty? Psalm 23 reminds us that not only is our cup half-full... it's full to overflowing. When we see our lives as full to overflowing with God's love, we are able to share more freely. We are more likely to offer the hospitality that has been modeled for us by God, because we recognize we have more than we could possibly need.
Taking a look at Matthew 25, it is easy to see the story of judgment on the surface. But if we look a bit deeper, we see other things going on here too. The passage is instruction on ways to inherit the kingdom of God. These verses are instructions on ways to live today that are life-giving and show God's love and care--God's hospitality--to the people we encounter throughout our lives. The part I find remarkable, as I think about this passage, is the acts of hospitality that are mentioned. They are small things. I think sometimes we get bogged down in how to share our faith or live as God calls us to with our neighbors around us. We think it takes BIG gestures. BIG events. BIG whatever--or it doesn't count or isn't important. Our culture teaches us that it's "GO BIG, or GO HOME". Matthew's passage reminds us that God is interested in the details-- small things that matter a lot. In sharing the small things with those around us, we are sharing God's hospitable love. We are living out God's kingdom in the details of our lives. We experience God's Kingdom in the details--the small things--as well.
In preparing for today's final sermon of the summer, and in beginning to catch up with Craig about this summer, I've had the opportunity to reflect back on many of the events that have gone on since May 2nd. It's also provided me the chance to begin looking for where Christ has shown up in often-unexpected places, or where we've both experienced God's hospitality and shown God's hospitality to others. I truly hope we will continue together to reflect on our Sabbatical summer experiences together, as I am sure there are many examples that I am unaware of where you have seen Christ present or God's kingdom at work. I look forward to hearing all about it! There are truly too many to list here, but here are a few.
Many of these involved us gathering together, sharing in food and fellowship, living into the small things of our lives that together show us at least a glimpse of God's hospitality. We supported the Komen Race for the Cure; won Best Team Spirit for our efforts in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life; and hosted a Bodacious BBQ that quite possibly was our best ever! We engaged in worship while learning about our liturgies and prayers; told stories about the life of this community of faith; and served in mission with communities Tennessee and our mountains. We had over 30 people gather for dinner to celebrate our friendships with our sister church in Costa Rica and greet our friends before they had to unexpectedly fly home early. Our table literally overflowed that evening as we ate, laughed, and formed memories that will remind us of God's kingdom for years to come.
As I thought about hospitality this summer, there was one other event that occurred that was much smaller and much less planned. Some are probably not aware it even happened at all. And yet, for me, it serves as a gigantic example of God's kingdom of hospitality at work in our midst. One Sunday in June, Joan Burri and I was here getting ready for worship. A few minutes after Joan arrived, I heard the main door open and the sound of a baby stroller and footsteps in the hall. Then a family of 4 appeared in my office. Father, mother, a 3 year-old son, and a less-than-month-old daughter--they looked as though they had spent the night in the ER, and as it was, they had. They had wandered into our church from Rex Hospital, and were hoping to find somewhere cool to rest and something to eat as well. Their food and shelter situation was in limbo, and they weren't quite sure what that Sunday held for them.
I talked with the family for a few minutes, as they shared with me about their current predicament. Then I talked with Joan about what to do. Joan and I shared what was for both of us a moment of grace as we decided that our only option was to show them God's hospitality. Minutes later others began arriving for worship, and we were able to invite others into the conversation. While some folks were preparing coffee and finding whatever food we had around, someone else made sure they had enough formula for the baby. I watched as one by one people began welcoming them to the table, so to speak. They then joined us for worship. As more people entered the conversation, it was decided that we would be sure they had lunch afterward. A group often gathers at the Subway Restaurant after worship, so we pulled up extra tables and shared subs and chips together in a sacramental moment. As people learned about what was going on, I had a few people stick cash into my hand that morning. After lunch a group of us helped them get back to the place where they had been staying. As we were standing at the motel waiting to get them situated, I realized that the cash that people had pushed into my hand was exactly the amount we needed to cover their room--to the penny. And at some point during that morning, I remember pausing for a breath and wondering, "OK, God--what are you up to here? Are You the one who is present here, just like you were in the stranger on the road to Emmaus? I believe I'm in the presence of Christ right now." After we dropped them off at the motel and made sure they were situated for the night, the group who had gathered to help scattered on to their normal Sunday afternoon routines. This was such a small thing. And yet, I believe it is exactly what Matthew is talking about. We all witnessed God's hospitality overflowing that Sunday morning!
God's hospitality runs as a theme throughout Scripture. But it doesn't stop there. We all have the call from God to extend the same fit-another-chair-around-the-table, grab-another-plate and cup, sure---there-is-plenty-to-go-around, overflowing hospitality. God calls us to recognize the hospitality we receive, and then to pay it forward to those around us. In sharing it, not only is the table in front of us prepared and our cups overflow, but we have the opportunity to welcome more people to join us in experiencing God's overflowing hospitality. Who do we have the chance to welcome to the table that might not be there? Who welcomes us and prepares a place for us to gather? Where can we offer the small things that can make such a difference? God's generous, overflowing hospitality invites us all. May we reach out in small ways to share this gift from God with everyone we meet! Amen.
[1] J. Clinton McCann, Jr. Psalms. New Interpreter's Bible, Vol. IV (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1996) 769.
[2] J. Clinton McCann, Jr. Psalms. New Interpreter's Bible, Vol. IV (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1996) 768, 770.
Posts
