Meal-time experiences and parties were one way in which the writer of Luke described and portrayed a vision of the Christian life. And, the banquet is a symbol of the reign of God. Table fellowship becomes a metaphor for the kingdom of God, where social boundaries and unjust divisions in human community no longer exist. Jesus embodies radical hospitality. Jesus invites us to stop the bookkeeping and let go of all imposed boundaries and distinctions we try to create. Jesus invites us to be the community of God’s people we are called to be. Jesus’ words reach across boundaries of place and time and call us to bear witness to the fellowship that exists between God and humanity. Jesus’ words call us to let go of our score keeping and live into the joy and freedom of fellowship with God and all others. Such fellowship is all about grace, the grace and love in which God holds not only us, but the entire cosmos. That is table fellowship, Jesus style!
Jesus is always calling and inviting each one of us saying, “Come forth, come and enter into life in all its fullness.” Jesus is calling each one of us to a new vision of the way things ought to be with ourselves and with the world. Jesus wants to set you free! He says to you, to me, to each one of us, “The Kingdom of God is at hand, it is within you, it is in your midst.”
This is special music from Tammy Heilman today at the Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.
Jesus calls us to discipleship and a life of faith. Today, his words seem harsh, but they are honest, lay it on the line words. We are not called to live a sugar coated, comfortable life of faith. We are called to participate in Christ’s mission. And, as God works through us, Christ restructures us; Christ breaks down walls of division; Christ repairs us in order that we might become repairers of a broken world. God takes us into God’s ongoing work of reconciling, binding up, and making whole. And, yes, it is not easy, it is demanding, costly and risky. However, we do not do this alone because it is Christ who is our peace in the depth of the struggle. And, it is Christ who is with us every step of the way.
This is a sermon based on the text from Luke 12:49-56 as presented on August 14, 2016 at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.
Special music presented by Laura Nelson at the August 14, 2016 church service
This is a recording of the Race, Ethnicity, Religion, & Culture: Learning About Islam session that occurred on August 10th at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.
Part of our Race, Ethnicity, Religion, and Culture Series, attendees came and spent an evening learning more about the Islam Religion with Imam Sohail Chaudhry. Please listen and learn!