A Seat at the Table

Luke 14 has been somewhere I have meditated for most of this year. Jesus is at a dinner party thrown by a Pharisee, and at this party, He tells three stories in quick succession about being at a dinner party. I have been mesmerized for so long at all the nuance. Asking myself questions - who is Host? who are the servants? where do I sit?

Isn't it just like us to ask for a seat at the table? My sweet, young resident in her early 20's even had a tattoo of a chair - one like you might find in your grandmother's house - with a script below it that said "there is room." I loved it. Because it's true.

He encouraged the dinner guests to invite the poor, the disabled, those limping, the blind. He said the host would be blessed "since they do not have the means to repay you."

I know what He means. But I disagree. Their inability to repay is gift enough.

All year, I have been too busy to post on here because of one thing: seminary. I've been studying deeply the things of God, ministering to people one at a time, and receiving payment in full at our weekly ministry.

One man, reddish hair and goatee, I'll call him Dave. He gave me a small wooden cross in a little white fabric drawstring bag. He said "when you reach into your purse and find you don't have money, you can see that and know it'll all been paid in full." I hugged and thanked him. I don't see him anymore, but I still keep it in my purse and smile every time I see it.

One friend, I'll call her Nancy. Our church got to help her get into an apartment. As a thank you, she made me a white and purple bookmark as a thank you, with the crosses in purple thread. It was beautiful. This was back before her last relapse. But she's back now, and still working. I'm proud of her.

Gifts abound when helping those who can't repay.

And our Host is a gracious one. There is always room.