Creekside Church Sermon of August 19, 2001 "Eating Like Jesus " Luke 14:7-14	Rev. David Bibbee
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Dear Miss Manners: At a recent dinner party I was chided by a man who told me I committed a faux paux of seating etiquette. According to this gentleman, who was, by the way, underdressed for the formal occasion, I should bot have seated myself near the head of the table. I explained that I had been "personally" invited by the Rothchild's, and was certain there would be no problem taking seat between the Windsor's and the Wellington'. He said one should always choose the lowest place and be humble at such occasions.

I always honor social convention and follow proper protocol, but I am wondering if there is any substance to the remarks by the guest. Are there exceptions to the rule of social graces of which I am unaware? Please advise. Signed, Socially Confused.

Dear Socially Confused: I do not know the etiquette source the guest in question was alluding to. It sounds as though it bears more resemblance to the Farmer's Almanac than Martha Stewart's Living. You obviously are of significant social standing to have been invited to the Rothchild's in the first place. Status does have its privileges, and you should not be apologetic about your fortune. Though humility is a noble virtue, and at times useable, I am aware of no precedent which suggests that a guest should intentionally sit in the cheap seats. The meek may inherit the earth, but only after everybody else is finished with it. Concerning the absence at the party of those with lessor standing and means…they are the reason there is Burger King.

Once again, Jesus shows how foreign are the ways of the world compared to the way of life ordered in the Kingdom of God. Once again, Jesus pokes holes in our priorities, telling us that what matters much from the vantage of the world, is of no consequence in the eyes of God. Once again, the SHEPHERD sheds a searching light upon his sheep who have gotten the idea that being a disciple is about good manners and respectable social standing.

A man named Thomas Hardy felt called to the priesthood, but was discouraged from pursuing the call because he was from a poor, working class family. The church hierarchy successfully squelched his desire. Years later, Thomas Hardy reflected upon his experience and sarcastically wrote, "To succeed in the church, people must believe in you, first of all, as a gentleman, secondly as a man of means, thirdly as a scholar, fourthly as a preacher, fifthly, perhaps as a Christian -- but always first as a gentleman."

Once again the Gospel shows us that to be in league with Jesus is to be out of step with the world.

Jesus was invited to a dinner with a house full of "religious gentlemen." It is reasonable to assume they were the esteemed, respected, fine folks of the community. They belonged to the Rotary Club. They helped the United Way, and were in church nearly every Sunday. In their eyes, they were successful, but Jesus saw something else.

As they patted each other on the back and tanked themselves around the tables Jesus felt obligated to say something about humility and hospitality. "You only become somebody when you live like you are no better than anybody. Instead of putting on a party for your chronies, throw one for those who couldn't pay you back in a million years. That's how to be exhalted and blessed!"

Hove you noticed there is often food around when Jesus teaches? Whether he is alone with Zaccheus, on in the home of Mary, Martha, or feeding 5,000 people, on in the Upper Room with the disciples, food is present. Jesus would eat with anybody. There is one reason he was always in trouble with the Pharisees. It wasn't just his theology that upset them… it was the people with whom he ate. He mixed with people from whom the religious remained totally separate. When you eat with someone, you share more than food. Bonds are formed. Around the table everyone is equal. That's not the way it is in the world. Food is used as a social division. People with money eat in 4-star restaurants. People without money eat in soup kitchens and out of dumpsters. The LaSalle Grill doesn't have a HOMELESS NIGHT.

But Jesus blew a breach in this boundary by sitting at the table of those who were different and disliked. He demonstrated a new kind of table etiquette…not with what utensil you eat, but with whom you eat. The goal of the Christian life is to be more like Jesus. Day by day we ask God for grace to be more Christ-like in our thinking, our behaving, and our relating. But what about in our eating? Have you ever heard anyone say they wanted to, "eat like Jesus?"

In 1977, as part of a college course at Manchester, I lived with a family for a month in Bogota, Columbia. I knew next to no Spanish and our host family spoke no English. Fortunately, my roommate Tim, was fluent in Spanish. The Martinez family had little income. Our meals were mainly rice, dried beans, and yucca with an occasional small portion of meat. They ate little helpings and insisted we take the larger since we were guests. Within their limited means they treated us like royalty. I especially remember the night I was alone with the family.

At dinnertime I was escorted to the table. Tim mentioned that I liked fish. They watched my reaction as a plate with two whole fish on it was placed before me. They were eating something different. The fish was only for me. Have you ever eaten boiled fish…boiled fish with the entrails in and scales on? Six pairs of eyes watched each bite I forced down. It was not the best fish I have ever eaten. But it was the most sacred meal. The Martinez family had gone to great effort to provide that meal. They made a sacrifice for me.

Something happened between us at that meal. The distractions of culture and language melting away. Despite the language barrier, we understood each other. As we ate around the table in that tiny dining room, communion was happening. Though the name "Jesus" was not uttered, His presence was felt.

Have you ever noticed that Jesus' post-resurrection appearances were associated with food? He made himself known to the disciples with whom he traveled to Emmaus in the breaking of bread. He appeared to all the disciples and ate a piece of broiled fish. When it seemed all over, Peter and some other disciples went back to fishing. After a fish-less night, a stranger on the beach told them to put down their nets again, and this time the nets were bulging with fish. And when they came ashore with their great catch, there was Jesus, with the fish on the fire. "Breakfast is served," he said.

What is the connection between Jesus and eating? Just as food is necessary for life, so is Jesus. People usually do not like to eat alone. If there is no one to share a meal, we will call someone. If no one can come, we turn on the TV or read the paper while we eat. Eating reminds us that we need others, and on a deeper level it reminds is of our hunger and hope for the OTHER.

When we come forward to receive communion, we don't come proud, confident in our goodness, and full of ourselves. Someone has observed the difference between being proud and humble people. "Proud people are unapproachable. Humble people are easily entreated. Proud people are concerned with being respectable, with what others think. They work to protect their own image and reputation. Humble people are concerned with being real; what they care about and what matters most to them is not what others think, but what God knows. They are willing to die to their own reputation. Proud people compare themselves to the holiness of God and feel desperate need for His mercy." When you come forward to receive communion, you look all the same to me. The floor beneath you is level. No one stands above another. You stand here with your empty hands, cupped to receive something. We've filled our hands with many things. We've accumulated so many possessions we must rent storage space to keep it all. We've tried to be better than others. We've striven to get the best seats. We've tried to get ahead at the expense of others. We're smug because we are more committed to the church than others.

In a moment we will stand at the front of the church holding nothing. The world keeps telling us where we can get a good meal. We have followed the directions, we have eaten our fill, yet we're still hungry. Into your empty hands I will put a little piece of bread to remind you that we need bread to survive and the bread of life to live. As you eat it, ask yourself what would be different if you would eat like Jesus. At the very least it means that as we are fed by God's love, we are compelled to invite others so they, too, can taste and see that the Lord is Good.

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