Matthew 14:13-21-"A Table in the Wild"

Synopsis:

Psalm 78 asks, “Can God set a table in the wilderness?” Jesus does just that when he feeds a multitude with a few fish and loaves. The wilderness desert is a dangerous, inhospitable place, but God continues to show up in our wilderness and help us find our way back to the Table. Like in the children’s book “Where the Wild Things Are” one child psychologist notes how the book is a story about a rambunctious little boy who is put in timeout, feels his feelings in a far away land of his imagination, and is draw back into the real world by the smell of supper and the warmth of his mother’s love. On this Sunday, we share Communion and are reminded how God sustains us and calls us home no matter how far into the wilderness we might be.

Luke 14:1, 7-14 - "An Honorable Mention"

Synopsis: Jesus is invited to his third dinner party in the Gospel of Luke, and has two important bits of wisdom to share with the guests (who scramble for seats of honor) and the hosts (who only invite people who can provide a quid pro quo of power, access, or position to them). Honor/Shame matrices are foreign to us as Americans, but this teaching from Jesus is saturated in his cultural situation. To rise above your station on your own without an invitation from a higher-up, is a bold, risky move that usually ends with a shameful dismissal. Although, God is God who lifts up the lowly and bestows honor to those who otherwise might be ignored by most folks in society.

Keywords: Jesus, honor, hospitality, justice, compassion, love, grace, inclusion, Kingdom of God

Luke 10:38-42 - "Schooled By Grace"

Text: Luke 10: 38-42

Synopsis: Martha, frustrated with her sister Mary, tells Jesus to tell Mary to help her in the kitchen. While this story seems to stick in the craw of Type A folks (and rightly so), this is not a story about freeloaders vs. hard-workers. This is a story about Mary, who chooses get schooled by the Rabbi Jesus, even though, in that culture, woman belonged in the kitchen not in the classroom. This act of social overstep is praised by Jesus and share with not Martha, not to her shame but to her inclusion. Jesus schools Martha by inviting her to join Mary and the men as they all learn together at the feet of the Teacher.

Keywords: Jesus, hospitality, education, gender equality, women, inclusion, honor/shame culture, spiritual formation, Sunday School

"Keep the Party Going" - John 2:1-11

Jesus comes to bring joy and honor to humanity. In the wedding feast, not only does he allow the celebration to continue, he covers the potential shame of the host who has run out of wine. A flourishing faith life is not about obligation or regulation, but rather is about learning to lean into God’s goodness by living with radical hospitality in all of our relationships across cultural, identity, and gender divisions.

"Stranger Gifts" - Matthew 2:1-12

Text: Matthew 2:1-12

Synopsis: Epiphany is a season of discover and illumination. In Epiphany people begin to realize who Jesus is and God became flesh. These strangers from the East arrive with even stranger gifts for the newborn king. The gifts perhaps symbolize the trifold calling of Jesus as prophet, priest, and king. Gold fit for a king; frankincense offered by priests; myrrh to embalm the body of a slain prophet; strange, but illuminating gifts for the little king offered by strangers from a strange land.

Keywords: Epiphany, calling, vocation, ministry, grace, surprises, strangers.