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Proper 11 Psalm 23 July 19, 2009
In the beginning there
was hospitality. . .and it was Radical hospitality because it was God’s
hospitality. God was the host. God even prepared the table. According
to Psalm 23, God prepared a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Reminds me of an old movie, “Guess
Who’s Coming To Dinner.”
Psalm 23 is a daring song of hope. Whoever penned this
psalm was either bold in faith or not quite living in reality. Claiming to not be in want or to have
everything one needs is a difficult claim. To walk to the edge of death and not have fear? Valley here means a gully, a ravine,
crevice, or a gorge. It is
not easy walking through a gulley area. In
a place like that in ancient Israel, it was dangerous or treacherous. There
were lots of places from which bandits or animals could attack. Yet in the midst of this the psalmist
has hope that God, the Shepherd, would allow him to be refreshed with water
and to lie in green fields.
The phrase that got
my attention was “You prepare
a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.” The Tanakh, the Jewish Bible, say “you prepare a table
before me in full view of my enemies.” Is
this like a taunt? Boy, look
at this feast! Oh, this steak
or these tomatoes are soo good. Too
bad you can’t have any!! God
is on my side.” It could be a taunt but I don’t think so. God is the host. God has prepared a table
with the enemy or adversary in full view. It is a strange image yet so powerful.
What is God up to? A table –maybe an old round oak table - all set –
beautiful dishes, silverware in place, napkins, glasses. Candles. Flowers. And there surrounding
the table in full view are those with whom we disagree. Those who have hurt us or offended us. Those
who hold to different beliefs.
What is God up to? Does
this mean we should invite the Taliban or Al Qaeda over for dinner? There
in full view are our fears. Our own fears can be an enemy. Often we don’t want to
see our enemies or face our fears. Yet,
I wonder if this image is part of God’s holy hospitality that just
might help transform us and our fears.
Authentic transformation happens not only through legislation
or coercive power. This transformation
of the soul happens at a table – at a meeting in full view of each
other. Where we can see the
lines on their faces, see the fear in their eyes, the slump of the shoulders
or the stiff posture. It is
where we can see each other as human beings. It is at table that we can experience and learn to respect
the dignity of every human being. At
times it is hard to be present at the table.
I am not only referring to the Eucharistic Table. I’m talking about our kitchen tables,
the tables at waffle house or Sharkey’s, the tables Habersham Soup
Kitchen
– you get the picture - - -any table around which we gather can be a
place to experience the dignity of every human being: that is God’s table and that is holy hospitality.
Psalm 23 closes with a comical image. It says that goodness
and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. The Hebrew word translated follow is not like that of a little
puppy dog wagging its tail, following along. The word is more like pursue. . . .Like the hounds of heaven
goodness and mercy chase us till they catch us. . .
When we meet at one
of God’s table, goodness and
mercy peruse us instead of our enemies.
Thanks be to God
The Rev Mary Wetzel
Grace Calvary
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