An Echo of the Divine Desire
- davidwperk
- Nov 11, 2024
- 7 min read
Devotional Reflection, Monday November 11, 2024
Proper 27, the week of the twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:
Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, “Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.” 22And the slave said, “Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.’ 23Then the master said to the slave, “Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. 24For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.”’
You will find the full text of today’s Gospel at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 993)
AM Psalm 80; PM Psalm 77, [79]
Joel 1:1-13; Rev. 18:15-24; Luke 14:12-24
Today we celebrate the Feast of Martin of Tours. (See below.)
David’s Reflections
“Jesus ate good food with bad people,” a French priest once quipped. Much of Jesus’ ministry took place around tables over meals, some with scrupulous, devout Pharisees (See Luke 7) and some with the outcasts, those shunned by the religious (See Luke 19). His final night and his final act of ministry, the washing of the disciples’ feet (John 13), took place at table in the context of a meal, the Last Supper. Several of his post-resurrection appearances happened around meals (Luke 24; John 21). Our practice of Holy Eucharist rests not only on Jesus’ final meal with his followers; rather, the entire meal ministry of Jesus lies beneath our eucharistic practice.
The parable in today’s Gospel has to do with a man who set a large table and bid his friends to share a meal. Their diffidence sparked his anger and his decision to open that table to the undesirables. His servants gleaned the city alleys and the country lanes to fill the seats spurned by those on the original guest list.
As an Episcopalian, I share in a sacred meal each Lord’s Day. Parables like this one, set in the context of Jesus’ own meal ministry, give me some sense of the value Jesus places on that meal and on my regular participation. At that table, I come up against my most basic hunger for God, and I am joined there by brothers and sisters who share that hunger. My own persistent efforts to elevate myself and make myself different run afoul of the rather raw equality revealed there. We all need Jesus equally, and we all receive him in the same way.
I also get some sense from the energy of this parable about Jesus’ intense desire that God’s house be full, that the table be crowded with hungering souls. And, Jesus especially welcomes the most undesirable and unwelcome. I cannot approach the table in peace if I have neglected seeking to bring others with me. In between those sacred meals, we are the only Eucharist the non-attenders have; we are the closest they come to an incarnation of the bread of heaven. If our loving prayers and invitation find a welcome response, those very people may join us at that table and experience Jesus’ love, forgiveness, and nurture in bread and wine.
“That my house may be full” said the host at the banquet, a vivid expression of his desire. In those words we hear an echo of God’s desire. Imagine how the early house churches heard this story in the context of their celebration of Eucharist and their desire to gather all to God’s saving love. That awareness makes it difficult to place any barrier between anyone in a worship service and the possibility of a transforming encounter with the living Christ in bread and wine.
Obviously, the normal, traditional practice follows the order of font, then table. Yet, an unbaptized newcomer in the assembly may feel drawn by Christ’s Spirit in the dynamic flow of worship and come forward to receive communion. Ours is to keep that possibility open while not undermining the font/table tradition. Holy Eucharist continues to “convert” each of us through ongoing transformation. The Spirit at work in that liminal space, the altar area, may well bring a newcomer to their initial conversion moment.
To echo the words of the householder in the parable, “that my house may be full.” Let us resolve to welcome those words as an echo of the divine desire and pray that God’s Spirit may heighten that desire within us. How differently would our churches worship, witness, and serve were we possessed of that divine desire “that my house may be full.”
Collect of the Day, Proper 27
O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 236)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Martin of Tours, bishop and theologian (died 11 Nov 397 CE)
Collect of the Feast of Martin of Tours
Lord God of hosts, who clothed your servant Martin the soldier with the spirit of sacrifice and set him as a bishop in your Church to be a defender of the catholic faith: Give us grace to follow in his holy steps, that, at the last, we may be found clothed with righteousness in the dwellings of peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
A Collect for the Renewal of Life
O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 99)
Of the Incarnation
O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 252)
A Prayer for Light
Almighty God, we give you thanks for surrounding us, as daylight fades, with the brightness of the vesper light; and we implore you of your great mercy that, as you enfold us with the radiance of this light, so you would shine into our hearts the brightness of your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 110)
A Collect for Mission
O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100, 257)
Daily Office Gospel, Luke 14:12-24
12He said also to the one who had invited him, ‘When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. 13But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.’
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15 One of the dinner guests, on hearing this, said to him, ‘Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!’ 16Then Jesus said to him, ‘Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. 17At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, “Come; for everything is ready now.” 18But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, “I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my regrets.” 19Another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my regrets.” 20Another said, “I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come.” 21So the slave returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, “Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.” 22And the slave said, “Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.’ 23Then the master said to the slave, “Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. 24For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.”’
Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer
Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer
Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer
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