Radical Welcome (Maundy Thursday)

Luke 22: 14-16

Roger Lynn

April 13, 2017

Maundy Thursday

“He took his place at the table, and the apostles with him.” (Luke 22:14) On the surface of things it seems like such a simple, straightforward statement. It was time for the meal and they all gathered around the table. But nothing about this meal was simple or straightforward. Those who came together in that upper room to share this meal did not know it (although Jesus probably suspected), but this would be the last meal they would eat together before their lives came completely unravelled with the brutal death of Jesus. Over and over again his followers had proved themselves surprisingly dense at understanding what was happening, so they were probably oblivious. Jesus, however, could almost certainly read the writing on the wall. And in the face of the gathering storm he chose not to run away and seek shelter, but rather to continue living his God-centered, God-filled life in the same way he had been living it all along. It was Passover. They were in Jerusalem. And what you did on Passover was share a meal with those closest to you. So he made arrangements to borrow a room and have the meal prepared. He invited his disciples to join him for an evening of food and fellowship. And he used the occasion to remind them that Sacred Presence can be experienced in every moment of life, including the darkest and most frightening times, through stuff as common and ordinary as a loaf of bread and a cup of wine. 

If the story stopped there it would be enough to sustain us in our faith for a lifetime. But there is at least one more remarkable thing about the meal that often goes unnoticed. The people who gathered with Jesus for that meal had been following Jesus for quite some time (one to three years, depending on which Gospel time-line you look at) and yet, as was previously mentioned, they were often slow to understand the lessons which Jesus was trying to share with them. On this particular occasion the group included those who would run away when the going got tough, one who would deny even knowing him, and one who had already made arrangements to sell him out to those who were seeking to have him killed. It would have been completely understandable if Jesus had simply washed his hands of the whole group. But he didn’t. He did not stand at the door deciding on the merits of letting each one come in for the meal. He did not say to Peter, “I’m sick of your lack of understanding and your lack of commitment. Just go home.” He did not tell any of them that they were unwelcome at the table. He welcomed them all. He sat with them all. He broke bread with them all. Every single one of them. No exceptions. Just loving, compassionate, radical welcome. 

So in the midst of Jesus’ darkest hours he chose to be so fully present to God’s love that he was empowered to share Love unconditionally, even with those who would abandon, deny, and betray him. And 2,000 years later that lesson is still transforming lives. If Peter, and James, and John, and Judas were welcomed to the table, then we can be certain that we are welcome as well. If their fear-based faithlessness did not disqualify them from receiving the gift of God’s unconditional love, then we can be certain that such love is being poured out for us as well. 

Radical welcome! It’s what we are invited to experience. It’s what we are invited to share with the world! All are welcome at God’s banquet table. And all means all – no exceptions.