The Family Table

The church is God saying: ‘I’m throwing a banquet, and all these mismatched, messed-up people are invited. Here, have some wine…

Rachel Held Evans

This weekend is World Communion Sunday. All around the globe Christians will be gathering around Christ’s table this weekend to break bread and share the cup that Jesus himself instituted.

Every time we gather around the table for the Lord’s Supper, we recall the words of scripture that remind us that in the end, people will come from everywhere – north, south, east, and west – to sit together at one table.

Though, in our tradition, Ministers of Word and Sacrament officiate Communion, we should never forget that there is no head of the table except Christ himself. It is Jesus’ own family table. And all of us, even pastors, we are merely guests at a table Christ opened to even the most notorious sinner among his friends.

The even more remarkable thought is to consider all of the different cultures that will be together at table in the end. It will not be all Presbyterians or Baptists or Catholics. Skin colors will display the full range of God’s wondrous variety. And the breads will come from Africa and Asia, America and Australia, Europe and maybe even Antarctica. The effect will be a myriad of colors and smells that awaken the senses to the beauty of God’s incredible and diverse creation.

Though we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper as we traditionally do this weekend, our table will hopefully reflect the much wider worth with whom we are sharing our feast.

May it be a day of celebration. A day to forget those things that divide us. A day to embrace the face of Christ in all of our brothers and sisters around the table – wherever they may be.

Blessings, Pastor Janie