"The single most important theological message of this text is that Jesus the Christ is not only for "insiders" but for "outsiders" as well. On one level, we can easily affirm that truth. And yet, practicing it may not come as easily as believing it." – Dennis Bratcher

Scripture: The apostles and the brothers and sisters throughout Judea heard that even the Gentiles had welcomed God’s word. When Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him.  They accused him, “You went into the home of the uncircumcised and ate with them!”
Step-by-step, Peter explained what had happened. “I was in the city of Joppa praying when I had a visionary experience. In my vision, I saw something like a large linen sheet being lowered from heaven by its four corners. It came all the way down to me. As I stared at it, wondering what it was, I saw four-legged animals—including wild beasts—as well as reptiles and wild birds. I heard a voice say, ‘Get up, Peter! Kill and eat!’ I responded, ‘Absolutely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ The voice from heaven spoke a second time, ‘Never consider unclean what God has made pure.’ This happened three times, then everything was pulled back into heaven. At that moment three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea arrived at the house where we were staying. The Spirit told me to go with them even though they were Gentiles. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered that man’s house. He reported to us how he had seen an angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is known as Peter. He will tell you how you and your entire household can be saved.’ When I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as the Spirit fell on us in the beginning. I remembered the Lord’s words: ‘John will baptize with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, then who am I? Could I stand in God’s way?”
Once the apostles and other believers heard this, they calmed down. They praised God and concluded, “So then God has enabled Gentiles to change their hearts and lives so that they might have new life.”
 - Acts 11:1-18 (Common English Bible)

Meditation: As we continue our Lenten series, The Compassionate Table, we continue to focus on the ways that we can see even more clearly the ministry of Jesus Christ specifically at the table.  

In this particular passage, we are actually receiving a summary of chapter 10, of what happened in Caesarea with a man name Cornelius, and his family and friends.  (I highly recommend that you read chapter 10 in addition to what you will hear on Sunday!)  More specifically Peter is summarizing what happened, because the believers in Jerusalem were quite skeptical and critical of Peter's actions.  You see Peter traveled down to Caesarea and (gasp!) ate with people who were not Jewish!

Now I added that little note (gasp!) because it does sound crazy to us now - why couldn't Peter eat with other believers, regardless of how they came to know Christ?  Well, there were very strict laws against this, and Peter's dining with Gentiles prompted quite a few questions to the church in Jerusalem.  Who should be included within the circle of the people of God?  Are the traditional boundary markers will to be observed?  If traditional prevents Jews and Gentiles from associating with each other, what happens when the old social distinctions no longer exist?  How are they to relate to each other within a newly configured people of God?

What about us?  What social distinctions keep us separated from one another?  What social distinctions, if they were to change would dramatically change the way we associate with one another?  What social distinctions might change in order to foster the in-breaking of God's kingdom here on earth?  I have a few ideas, but I'd love to hear yours and continue this conversation.  Won't you join us on Sunday?

Jesus loved the gatherings around meals. This was one of the primary distinctions between him and John the Baptist. He doesn’t even deny the charge that he enjoyed more than his share at many meals.
                                - Emerson Powery (adapted)

READING:
That triggered a response from one of the guests: “How fortunate the one who gets to eat dinner in God’s kingdom!” Jesus followed up. “Yes. For there was once a man who threw a great dinner party and invited many. When it was time for dinner, he sent out his servant to the invited guests, saying, ‘Come on in; the food’s on the table.’  “Then they all began to beg off, one after another making excuses. The first said, ‘I bought a piece of property and need to look it over. Send my regrets.’ “Another said, ‘I just bought five teams of oxen, and I really need to check them out. Send my regrets.’ “And yet another said, ‘I just got married and need to get home to my wife.’ “The servant went back and told the master what had happened. He was outraged and told the servant, ‘Quickly, get 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 lay your hands on, and bring them here.’ “The servant reported back, ‘Master, I did what you commanded—and there’s still room.’ “The master said, ‘Then go to the country roads. Whoever you find, drag them in. I want my house full! Let me tell you, not one of those originally invited is going to get so much as a bite at my dinner party.’”
                              - Luke 14.15-24 (The Message)

REFLECTION:
​In the biblical tradition, grace and compassion have long been imaged through the ancient customs of hospitality and table fellowship. One could pass over stories about shared meals as incidental, but this would be a mistake. Table fellowship is especially significant in the gospels, because it provides insight into Jesus’ teaching and convictions.
 
This is why we have chosen table fellowship as the theme of our Lenten sermon series, The Compassionate Table of Jesus. As we examine several narratives of Jesus sharing meals with everyone from Pharisees to those on the fringe of society, we will hopefully glean insights into the nature of grace and compassion, and how they should impact the way we live our faith.
 
We will begin this Sunday with a consideration of Luke’s parable of the great dinner party (or, the feast) in chapter 14. I don’t want to give away all of my thunder, so I will offer a challenge for you. As you reflect on the parable between now and Sunday, seek to identify those who are worthy of a seat at God’s welcome table, or if worthiness has anything to do with it; and seek to identify what insights are given into the scope of grace and compassion. You might do this in Lectio Divina style (Divine Reading) meditating on each of the above questions as you read through the passage several times. On Sunday, we will compare the fruits of our efforts. I hope to worship with you then.

The Transfiguration of Jesus has to be a moment of revelation that extends beyond the mountaintop experience. Otherwise, it will only justify glory, power, and privilege.
                                                                     -  Karoline Lewis 

READING:
About eight days after Jesus said these things, he took Peter, John, and James, and went up on a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed and his clothes flashed white like lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, were talking with him. They were clothed with heavenly splendor and spoke about Jesus’ departure, which he would achieve in Jerusalem. Peter and those with him were almost overcome by sleep, but they managed to stay awake and saw his glory as well as the two men with him. As the two men were about to leave Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it’s good that we’re here. We should construct three shrines: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—but he didn’t know what he was saying. Peter was still speaking when a cloud overshadowed them. As they entered the cloud, they were overcome with awe. Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my chosen one. Listen to him!” Even as the voice spoke, Jesus was found alone. They were speechless and at the time told no one what they had seen. The next day, when Jesus, Peter, John, and James had come down from the mountain, a large crowd met Jesus. A man from the crowd shouted, “Teacher, I beg you to take a look at my son, my only child. Look, a spirit seizes him and, without any warning, he screams. It shakes him and causes him to foam at the mouth. It tortures him and rarely leaves him alone. I begged your disciples to throw it out, but they couldn’t.” Jesus answered, “You faithless and crooked generation, how long will I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.” While he was coming, the demon threw him down and shook him violently. Jesus spoke harshly to the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father. Everyone was overwhelmed by God’s greatness.
                                       - Luke 9.28-43 (CEB)

REFLECTION:
​More times than not, Luke’s narrative of Jesus’ transfiguration is concluded at verse 36; thus isolating it from the narrative of what happened when Jesus and his entourage descended the mountain and were confronted by pain and suffering. However, many students of Luke, myself included, consider the following passage, verses 37 through 43, as intimately connected to the transfiguration on the mountaintop. This is because it is what happens in the noisy streets, in the thick of life’s fray, that provides a fuller understanding of what transfiguration means.
 
Sure, the vision on the mountaintop reveals a glimpse of the Christ as Christ has always been, shining like a flaming sun; radiant, brilliant, truly incomprehensible, truly impenetrable mystery. But this was true even when Christ “Manned himself” (as Madeleine L’Engle refers to the incarnation) and divine glory was cloaked by the humanity of Jesus. We have not been graced with a vision like that shared by Peter, John, and James; thus we must seek the meaning of transfiguration in Jesus, and the way he lived his life. That is revealed in the second part of the narrative, which features the compassion of the man Jesus who hailed from Nazareth. As Jesus was fond of saying, let those with ears to hear…
 
Could it be that the healing of a tortured child is itself a manifestation of God’s glory? And could it be that we too are called to be transfigured by our daily encounter with the Christ, and to go into the noisy streets to heal, comfort, and share Good News? It’s worth thinking about, and that’s what I invite you to do between now and Sunday, when I hope to worship with you at 8:30 or 10: 30.