November 21, 2018

Who Dines at Your Table?

Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

– Luke 14:12-14

While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. – Matthew 9:10

I’ve spent the last few days baking and cooking. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and everyone knows it takes days and days to really prepare a big meal. It’s something I enjoy. It’s not the feast, though I will certainly eat more than I should. It’s the people.

Thanksgiving to me is a gathering of friends and family. It’s a celebration with people I don’t always see. It’s a welcoming place where those who are alone feel like part of the family. It’s a day where everyone is included, where everyone has a place to go.

It’s not like that for everyone. Holidays can be hard. Families are filled with strife. Tensions are high, whether it’s politics, football or the petty jealousies that sometimes seem so important. People are lonely, broken, lost. They’ve no grand gathering to attend. There are no invitations to sort through. There are few things as hard as pretending it doesn’t matter when everyone seems to have a place to go but you.

Reach out. Make the phone call. Set another place at the table. Welcome those who didn’t get an invitation. Reach out to those who are alone. Invite them to the celebration.

And let the drama roll off. Refuse to engage in pettiness. Walk away from ugly comments. Is it hard? Oh, yeah. But take a deep breath and love them anyway. Remember that Jesus said it would be hard some days. Jesus told us to love people who wish us harm. Be kind. Rise above the hurt.

Tensions are high. Everyone is in a hurry. We’re stressed with food preparations and travel issues. Kids are tired and cranky. Parents are struggling to juggle it all. And people everywhere are feeling the stress of having a “perfect” holiday. Let it go.

It’s not about the decorations. It’s not even about the food. It’s about the people. It’s about loving and including those God has put into your life.