Monday Reflections: The Thanksgiving Table

“Everything that I have is yours- but this is a wonderful time, and we had to celebrate.”

— Eugene Peterson, The Message

As the holidays approach, may our tables be bountiful fields of hospitality, kindness and love. Photo by Kathleen Barry, United Methodist Communications

On the last week of August, a friend of mine asked me to come and preach for him. This was the last Sunday of his sabbatical. He gave me a heads-up that he would be present. He shared with me that he had been gone for six weeks and had missed his congregation. This last Sunday of his sabbatical, he wanted to worship with his flock.

The scripture I used for that Sunday was one of Jesus’ parables about hospitality and a banquet. To accompany that reading, I also used a passage from Jeremiah 2, in which God asks the people, “Why are you pursuing what is worthless?” The pairing of the two scriptures led us to ask whether our lack of hospitality, particularly towards those we profoundly disagree with, is a worthless pursuit. The challenge we left with is to extend hospitality even to those with whom we deeply disagree.

After the service, my friend came to me and said, “Eduardo, I was thinking about changing our Thanksgiving plans because of a family member I cannot stand. After listening to the sermon, I think I need to be more charitable and extend hospitality to her.” I was taken aback. Often, I do not get feedback from my sermons. I awkwardly said, “Well, I hope it all goes well!” And I do. I’ve been praying since then that this coming holiday will be great for them.

I do feel that the Christian scriptures insist on hospitality, especially toward those we perceive as enemies. In the parable of the prodigal son, the elder brother saw his younger brother as an enemy. He wanted to do nothing with him. In the conversation with his father, the eldest brother refers to the other as “this son of yours.” The father reminded him that the celebration is because “your brother” was lost and is now found. Sometimes we are so good at othering. By doing this, we effectively objectify the one we disagree with. I think we are called to be better. I think we are to see the other not as an object but as a member of the human family. We are a part of the same family.

As the holidays approach, may our tables be bountiful fields of hospitality, kindness and love.

Prayer

Divine One, help me see others as you see them. Help me see them not only as your children, but also as my siblings with whom we form one family with You. Amen.