The table fellowship of Christians implies obligation. It is our daily bread that we eat, not my own. We share our bread. Thus we are firmly bound to one another not only in the Spirit but in our whole physical being. The one bread that is given to our fellowship links us together in a firm covenant. Now none dares to go hungry as long as another has bread, and anyone who breaks this fellowship of the physical life also breaks the fellowship of the Spirit.
                                                              — Dietrich Bonhoeffer

READING:
When they finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” Simon replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Simon replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.” He asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was sad that Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” He replied, “Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
                                                              - John 21.15-17 (CEB)

REFLECTION:
A friend recently shared with me that while most of us claim to harbor God's love in our hearts, that love is worthless unless we give it expression. Unless, that is to say, it flows through our lives into the lives of others. You know, into the lives of those pesky neighbors Jesus was always on about! My friend’s sentiment rang true to the life and message of Jesus, which I found mystifying, since my friend is Muslim. This twist in the conversation brought the words of Thomas Aquinas to mind, "One may never have heard the sacred word “Christ,” but be closer to God than a priest or nun." But that is not my point, so I will move on.

If we love God we will reach out to our neighbor to offer nurture and nourishment; or, to use the language of the New Testament, we will feed God's sheep. Fair enough; but what does that mean? What do we have to offer? Peter must have been haunted by that question as time and again Jesus challenged him to show his love for the risen Lord by feeding his sheep. What do we have to offer our neighbors? It is the same for us in our day as it was for Peter back in the day: address their needs; share from our bounty; offer personal, material, and spiritual support.

I must admit, that challenge makes me nervous, especially with Thanksgiving just around the corner. You see, I want to have that choice drumstick all to myself at the family feast, just as my cousin Richard used to manage (every year! Thanksgiving and Christmas.) I want to sit down at the thanksgiving table, thank God for the many blessings in my life, then keep them all for myself (especially that choice piece of turkey!) But - no - I'm supposed to share, just as Peter was to share. And If that’s not enough, Dietrich Bonhoeffer offered his two cents on the issue. “It is our daily bread that we eat,” he said, “not my own. We share our bread.“ I’ll have to admit, this is not a bad reminder as we approach the season of gratitude.

So, how do we express our love for God; how do we offer thanks for our many blessings? By feeding God's sheep, as Peter learned. Ann Weems seems to have learned this lesson, and speaks of it in a poem entitled Feeding Sheep. Perhaps if we interlace her words with Peter' story we will get a clear sense of what we should do next week:

When they finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” Simon replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said, “Feed my lambs.” There were no conditions… Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Simon replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.” He said, “Take care of my sheep… feed my sheep.” There were no conditions… Least of all, feed my sheep if they deserve it. Feed my sheep if you feel like it. Feed my sheep if you have any leftovers. He asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was sad that Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” He replied, “Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” No conditions… just, “Feed my sheep.” Could it be that God’s Kingdom will come when each lamb is fed? We who have agreed to keep covenant are called… to feed sheep.

No conditions, just feed my sheep. No conditions, but I still have one question; may I please have the drumstick?

“At the center of God’s personality is a profound generosity. When it comes to blessing and loving the human family, God holds nothing back.” – Broderick Greer

Reading: Colossians 1:11-14 "May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

Reflection: Recently I have been trying a lot of different kinds of exercise just to stay active and keep moving. I love running, but sometimes I need a change. So the other day I went back to something I haven't done in years, but remember with great fondness: ballet.

I joined the State Ballet of Missouri (now The Kansas City Ballet) when I was in 3rd grade and danced through my middle school years, sometimes six days a week. (My parents were saints and drove me to downtown KC ALL the time!) I remember a lot of the terminology from my time there, lots of technique and have many great memories, but I haven't put it into use in about 15 years.

My work-out was ROUGH. I knew all the right places my feet SHOULD be, but they didn't always go there at first. I knew what my posture was supposed to do, but I have no idea how I did that 15 years ago.

Recently you may have heard that Thanksgiving is “dead.” Many retailers that formerly would not have dared open on Thanksgiving are now opening at 6am to sell, sell, sell as the official Christmas shopping season gets underway. Some people are saying that this, specifically Macy's opening its doors, is the death of Thanksgiving.

 Colossians 1 reminds us that Christ has given us strength to endure (sometimes a lot) with patience as we give thanks to God in all we do. It's not that we give thanks after we have endured something difficult, it's that it is second nature to give thanks while we endure with patience. It may take some practice, and the practice might be difficult or rough. We may even forget a few steps in the process, but the exercise of giving thanks is always there, deep inside us, and difficult to forget.

Society may take a hiatus from the Thanksgiving holiday while they open their doors for “Christmas” shopping, the way I took a 15 year break from ballet. But we know that the Thanksgiving federal holiday on the 4th Thursday in November is not the only thing that prompts thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is such a part of us; it is so ingrained in us that it will never "die." We too may take a break, and our muscles may ache as we step into that first position as we remember back. But our muscles do remember, and we remember, because it is second nature.

You are invited to come worship with us this Sunday as we continue to think about both thanksgiving and Thanksgiving.

We also invite you to come participate in our “Better Than Black Friday” event on Friday, November 29.  As an alternative to the rush and spending of Black Friday, we will celebrate the season with a FREE community meal.  You are invited to volunteer, to bring a pot of soup, or to come join us if you are looking for community.

No matter where you are, you are invited here.  Won’t you join us?