Come to the Feast, Pentecost 19, October 15, 2017

Nineteenth Sunday of Pentecost (Year A)

Sunday, October 15, 2017

This is the very heart of the bigger table. It isn’t about formulating and defending some ironclad religious system that we proof-text and memorize and attempt to convince others to adopt. It’s not about winning theological discussions or defending worldviews. It is about tangibly living in a way that responds to what we believe about our own belovedness and about the belovedness of those we live alongside.

– John Pavlovitz, A Bigger Table

Theme: Come to the Feast

Reflection: Just a note – with today’s texts, I celebrate three years of weekly liturgical writing. I still have a long way to go to be the voice God wants me to be. Maybe by the time I complete this three-year course a few more times, God will have sanded off a few of the rough edges. Thank you for your grace in reading along.

I have this picture of God, preparing to welcome us all home. It’s a little like holidays among my family growing up. Put every leaf in the dining room and kitchen tables, set up the card tables, and if it’s nice outside, put the kids out on the picnic table. If we’re short some spaces, some of the young adults can sit on the couch or easy chairs. Everyone is welcome, and we’ve pulled out all the stops.

Except God has a super-big, round table, and it keeps expanding. No one gets stuck on the fringes, or at the foot of the table. Everyone is welcome and equal, known and beloved.

The wedding feast parable in today’s Gospel is Jesus’s attempt to explain the radical hospitality of God’s table of grace. Rich and poor, royals and paupers, respected and ruffian, healthy and ill – ALL are invited. The only way to be excluded is to refuse the invitation, or reject the garment of grace that covers all of our imperfections.

Matthew’s Gospel can be a little heavy-handed with the brutality. It seems a bit misplaced next to the amazing grace of the king, inviting everyone to the wedding feast. Remember the gospel is written for a community of Jewish believers whose scriptures were full of law and violence. It’s hard for us to read “kill the murderers and burn their towns” and “tie him up, and throw him out into the outer darkness.” But tucked inside is this lavish promise of “invite everyone.” All are welcome!

So dress right – in God’s beautiful robe of grace and take your place at the table. 

(You always are welcome to respond with your thoughts and reflections in the comments section at the bottom of this post.) 

Faith App:  Not everyone can accept that God’s invitation includes them – perhaps they’ve been rejected before, or believe they have to earn it first. This week, can you share some of that limitless grace with someone, especially if the person who needs to accept it is you?

HYMN/SONG SUGGESTIONS

Let Us Go Now to the Banquet, ELW 523

As We Gather at Your Table, ELW 522

God Extends an Invitation, ELW 486

United at the Table, ELW 498

Gather Us In, ELW 532

What Feast of Love, ELW 487

Come, Let Us Eat, ELW 491

The King of Love My Shepherd is, ELW 502

The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want, ELW 778

My Shepherd Will Supply My Need, ELW 782

Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us, ELW 789

Wedding Banquet, Roots for Rain (would be good for Sunday School classes or families) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv8ojKvo1pI

There once was a mighty King

His son was getting married

His servants searched the kingdom

Oh, calling all the guests to come

Oh come, oh come, oh come

The feast is ready here for you

Oh come, oh come, oh come

Come to the table of the Groom

None were ready when He called

They made excuses and they stalled

They told the servant let us be

They did not listen to the King

Oh come, oh come, oh come

The feast is ready here for you

Oh come, oh come, oh come

Come to the table of the Groom

{Go out into the city streets and alleys

Collect all who look like they need a square meal

All the misfits and homeless and wretched you can find and bring them here

The servant said, "Sir, I did what you commanded and there's still room."

The Master said, "Then go out to the country roads; whoever you find drag them in. I want my house full!"}

They found everyone they could

The poor the humble bad and good

But there was still room to spare

The King said, "Fill these empty chairs!"

Oh come, oh come, oh come

The feast is ready here for you

Oh come, oh come, oh come

Come to the table of the Groom

Oh come, oh come

Come to the table of the Groom

Come to the table of the Groom

Table of Grace, Phillips, Craig and Dean

Broken Things, Matthew West

Shoulders, For King and Country

He Will Carry Me, Mark Schultz

LESSONS

Isaiah 25:1-9 On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast.

Psalm 23 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

Philippians 4:1-9 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.

Matthew 22:1-14 Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone to the wedding banquet.

Summary:  God’s grace can be overwhelming. It makes us uncomfortable that God would take such good care of us, since we know our own hearts. But God’s grace IS that generous, so no more excuses – come to the feast!

OPENING LITANY based on Psalm 23

L:  Great Shepherd, you provide everything I could need and more,

C:  You surround me with beauty and urge me to rest on my journey.

L:  When I feel overwhelmed and powerless, you give me strength.

C:  You help me discover and do your kingdom-work.

L:  Even when I’m in a dark place or facing death, I am not afraid.

C:  You are always with me, and you protect and guide me.

L:  You invite me to a feast, and the guests surprise and challenge me.

C:  You welcome all people here and unite us in your purpose.

L:  Every day you cover me with mercy and loving-kindness,

C:  And I will live with you, today and forevermore!

CONFESSION

L:  In today’s Gospel, we are invited to a royal banquet

C:  God reaches out to us, catches us off-guard

L:  We know we don’t deserve to be at God’s table.

C:  This is awkward – we aren’t fit to be at this feast for the Son.

L:  Some folks refused to honor their invitations.

C:  We understand. We’ve turned our backs when God has called us.

L:  Others beat and killed those who brought the invitations.

C:  We confess we also can be kill-joys to those who are Spirit-filled.

L:  For our inaction that keeps us from your celebration, Lord have mercy.

C:  For our actions that make others unwelcome at the table, Christ have mercy.

(Silent reflection)

L:  In our confession, we pray together,

C:  Most Merciful God … you invite us to a feast and want us to sit at your table. Help us to come joyfully, and be a part of the dance that includes everyone. Help us to come dressed appropriately, wearing acceptable attire of patience and service, gratefulness and love.

P:  Here is Good News: You are God’s beloved, and you are invited to take your seat at the wedding feast. Don’t turn down your invitation – put on the robe of righteousness God has provided for you and rejoice! You are forgiven and set free from your sin by God’s abundant grace.

In the name of…

C:  Amen

PRAYER OF THE DAY

L:  We pray together, 

C:  Welcoming God, we sit at your banquet table, wondering why you asked us to join you. We don’t deserve to be at the feast. Even though we clean up well on the outside, on the inside we are a pretty scruffy bunch. We don’t look or act very different from those who refuse your invitation. Keep teaching us to clothe ourselves in love for you, and kindness and service to others, and that your table is for everyone. Amen.

COMMUNION BLESSING

L:  We pray together,

C:  We give you thanks, most gracious God, for the lavish feast in this bread, the joyful invitation in this cup, today and every time we gather. In this meal, we join with all your people, high and low, rich and poor, young and old, united by your grace that welcomes everyone. Help us keep extending your hospitality that has no limits.  Amen.

SENDING

L:  You’ve been invited, so come to the banquet;

C:  Put on your wedding robe and come inside!

L:  The feast is prepared and everything is ready;

C:  Rejoice! At God’s table there’s room for all!

L:  Go now, surprised again by grace, to love and to serve the Lord.

C:  Thanks be to God!

First Reading Isaiah 25:1-9 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: Canaanites annually celebrated a festival when Mot, the god of death, attempted to swallow the god, Baal, but did not succeed. The people of Israel would have recognized the reversal when Yahweh swallows death.

25 O Lord, you are my God;
    I will exalt you, I will praise your name;
for you have done wonderful things,
    plans formed of old, faithful and sure.
² For you have made the city a heap,
    the fortified city a ruin;
the palace of aliens is a city no more,
    it will never be rebuilt.
³ Therefore strong peoples will glorify you;
    cities of ruthless nations will fear you.
⁴ For you have been a refuge to the poor,
    a refuge to the needy in their distress,
    a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat.
When the blast of the ruthless was like a winter rainstorm,
⁵     the noise of aliens like heat in a dry place,
you subdued the heat with the shade of clouds;
    the song of the ruthless was stilled.

⁶ On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples
    a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines,
    of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear.
⁷ And he will destroy on this mountain
    the shroud that is cast over all peoples,
    the sheet that is spread over all nations;
⁸     he will swallow up death forever.
Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces,
    and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth,
    for the Lord has spoken.
⁹ It will be said on that day,
    Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us.
    This is the Lord for whom we have waited;
    let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

Second Reading Philippians 4:1-9 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: Paul wrote to the church at Philippi from prison. Amazing that this passage is so uplifting and encouraging despite his circumstances.

4 ¹ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

² I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. ³ Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. ⁵ Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹ Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

Gospel Matthew 22:1-14 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: Jesus continues to teach in the temple. Unlike the rabbis, who could speak freely, Jesus had to cloak his teachings in parables. Even then, the chief priests and Pharisees got the point, often

22 Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: ² “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. ³ He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. ⁴ Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’ ⁵ But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, ⁶ while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. ⁷ The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. ⁸ Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. ⁹ Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ ¹⁰ Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.

¹¹ “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, ¹² and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless. ¹³ Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ¹⁴ For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Voice of the Shepherd, Easter 4, May 7, 2017

Fourth Week of Easter (Year A)

Sunday, May 7, 2017

Abundant life is not something to earn or achieve, buy or barter for. Rather, it is a gift, the sheer gift of a God who loves us enough to lay down his life for us. There are so many thieves and bandits in this world who would rob us of life, who would cheat us of abundance. And so Jesus comes as the gatekeeper and good shepherd, the one who knows his sheep -- intimately and truly -- and who calls us by name so that we, hearing the difficult truth about ourselves, may believe and receive the second and wonderful truth about God's great and victorious love for us.

– David Lose

Theme: Voice of the Shepherd

Reflection:  If you were to ask me to name the best teacher I’ve ever known, Mrs. Vick would get my vote, hands down.

Gwen Vick wasn’t my kindergarten teacher. She wasn’t my son’s kindergarten teacher either. But reporting on education in a small community for eight years, I spent a lot of time in her classroom.

•               Mrs. Vick loved teaching.

•               Mrs. Vick loved teaching kindergarten.

•               Mrs. Vick loved mentoring kindergarten teachers.

•               Mrs. Vick loved her students.

•               And her students loved her.

Every school day, she was absorbed in preparing these early learners with the fundamentals of every subject they would take in the future – math, language, science, social studies, art, physical education and more. She modeled kindness and manners. She taught these impulsive 5- and 6-year-olds patience. She delighted in creativity.

And teaching kindergarten was her life. She planned lessons in the evenings, designed bulletin boards over the weekends, dreamed up new ideas to inspire her children over the summer. She talked her husband into building her a workroom at their rural Arizona home so she had the space to create and store all the materials she used. I’ve never met someone so devoted to her vocation.

By mid-year, students would freeze in mid-sentence when she asked for their attention. They recognized her voice in the gym, in the cafeteria, on the playground. She knew her students and their families, making sure a little one ate breakfast if she didn’t have enough at home, or went to the nurse’s office for clean clothing or a nap if he needed them. These children were fortunate enough to have everything they needed to learn, and as a result, they were filled with wonder and joy in abundance.

An hour of watching her work with and care for her students would recharge my soul for days to come.

Good Shepherd Sunday isn’t my favorite week of the church year. Most people’s knowledge of sheep is limited to “Mary Had a Little Lamb” and “Baa, Baa Black Sheep.” That is, sheep are raised for wool and meat, and their skills are limited to following and going astray. Today's Bible readers don’t have the deep knowledge of sheep and shepherds that our ancestors did.

I’ve often thought that Good Shepherd Sunday needs a new image to which today’s disciples could relate. Sheep, shepherds, pastures and gates are irrelevant to most people.

If Jesus had come to earth in our lifetime, perhaps we would be celebrating Good Kindergarten Teacher Sunday, and the children that hear the teacher’s voice and follow her, because she cares for them and provides for their every need.

I know I’m outnumbered. Psalm 23 is by far Christians’ favorite Psalm and most often the only one they can recite by heart. I’d venture to guess that more art exists of Jesus as the Good Shepherd than any other image of Jesus, except possibly Jesus on the cross.

But when I think of people devoted to the lives in their care, I picture this wonderful teacher, surrounded by her beaming students, a contemporary flock with their dedicated shepherd.

(You always are welcome to respond with your thoughts and reflections in the comments section at the bottom of the blog post.) 

Faith App:  Is there someone you can reach this week with a small gift of abundant life? It doesn’t have to be costly, in fact it may cost nothing at all. Consider inviting someone to lunch, visiting a shut-in or someone who lives in a nursing home, taking a child fishing or on a hike, or teaching a senior to use Facetime or Skype with their grandchildren.

HYMN/SONG SUGGESTIONS

The King of Love My Shepherd Is, ELW 502

I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say, ELW 332/611

The Lord’s My Shepherd, ELW 778

Jesus Calls Us; o’er the Tumult, ELW 696

Lead Me, Guide Me, ELW 768

My Shepherd, You Supply My Need, ELW 782

Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us, ELW 789

God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending, ELW 678

Have No Fear, Little Flock, ELW 764

Amazing Grace, ELW 779

We Are Called, ELW 720

You Never Let Go, Matt Redman

Shoulders, For King and Country

He Will Carry Me, Mark Schultz

Sound of Your Voice, Steven Curtis Chapman

Good to Be Alive, Jason Gray

Forever Reign, One Sonic Society/Hillsong

Blink, Revive

LESSONS

Acts 2:42-47 All who believed were together and had all things in common.

Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

1 Peter 2:19-25 Now you have returned to the shepherd and the guardian of your souls.

John 10:1-10 He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 

Summary of the Lessons:  It is not only Jesus who is the Shepherd and the Gate, but once we recognize the Shepherd and follow his voice, we are called to start living into this abundant life as a community, securing this goodness for all the people of God. How can we live with glad and generous hearts and not assure the same for our neighbors?

OPENING LITANY based on Psalm 23

L:  Christ is Risen!

C:  He is Risen Indeed!

L:  Gentle Good Shepherd, you provide everything I need,

C:  Lush, verdant pastures with time to rest and recharge,

L:  Scenic, still waters to restore my overwrought soul,

C:  Well-worn paths to walk, so I can learn to rely on you.

L:  Even when the way leads into death’s dark valley,

C:  I’m not afraid, because I see you walking beside me,

L:  I know you can protect me from every danger,

C:  I follow, and my trust increases with every step.

L:  You serve me a feast, even as threats surround me,

C:  Sweet oil bathes my brow, gifts overwhelm me.

L:  You pursue me with love throughout my life;

C:  Invite me to stay in your home forevermore.

CONFESSION

L:  Lord, allowing you to lead should come naturally,

C:  To follow the voice of the Shepherd who loves us,

L:  To ignore the lure of possessions and false idols,

C:  But how easily our desires can lead us astray.

L:  Gratitude also should flow from our lips, Lord,

C:  When we consider how much we’ve been given,

L:  When we realize everything comes to us as gift,

C:  But we forget to praise you, God, for our success.

L:  Finally, Lord, we struggle to be the body of Christ,

C:  When we ignore the needs of others around us,

L:  When we focus on our individual heavenly reward,

C:  Rather than building your kingdom, day by day.

(Silent reflection)

L:  In our confession, we pray together,

C:  Most Merciful God ... we fall far short of the vision you have for us, in hearing your voice, responding in gratitude to your gracious providing, and sharing our abundance with others. It's a tall order to maintain life in community. Guide us, we pray, to be generous to those who have need, patient with those with different opinions, and kind to those who are hurting.

Hear this Good News:  This promise is certain – No matter how far astray we wander, or how often we fail to heed our Shepherd’s voice, goodness and mercy pursues us every day, not because of anything we’ve done, but by the overflowing grace of God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Your sin is forgiven, and you are restored to the fellowship of God’s fold.

In the name of…

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

L:  We pray together, 

C:  Shepherd King … we pray that we always will recognize your voice, calling us away from distractions that rob us of peace, onto the path that leads to life – abundant and joyful life in you. Help us to be thankful for every gift you’ve given us, and with glad and generous hearts, share what we have with all your beloved people, assuring they, too, have everything they need to live well.  Amen.

COMMUNION BLESSING

L:  We pray together,

C:  We give you thanks, most gracious God, for this table you’ve provided for us – lavish bread and overflowing cup, small signs of the abundant life you promise. Because of your gentle tending, we’ve learned to trust you and recognize your voice. Lead us out, ready to share what you’ve given us, so that through our lives, others also may know your love. Amen. 

SENDING

L:  Through the teaching and the worship

C:  In our gatherings and breaking bread,

L:  As we pray and serve people in need,

C:  Abundant life is given and received.

L:  Go now, beloved flock, to love and to serve the Lord.

C:  Thanks be to God!

First Reading Acts 2:42-47 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: Following the Holy Spirit’s arrival at Pentecost, the apostles and new disciples lived in an idyllic community. This kind of communal and spiritual perfection is hard to maintain.

⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

⁴³ Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All who believed were together and had all things in common; ⁴⁵ they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. ⁴⁶ Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous^[c] hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Second Reading 1 Peter 2:19-25 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: The writer of 1 Peter is addressing persecuted exiles who are following the Way, dispersed from their homeland and having no rights or ownership in their land. Take heart, the text says. Your Lord and Savior Jesus also suffered unjustly.

¹⁹ For it is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. ²⁰ If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. ²¹ For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.

²² “He committed no sin,
    and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

²³ When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. ²⁴ He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵ For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

Gospel John 10:1-10 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: John continues his many “I am” references to try to capture the essence of who Jesus is. Today, Jesus uses two metaphors first century people would have understood to describe his care for his beloved people.

10 “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. ² The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵ They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” ⁶ Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

⁷ So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸ All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹ I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.