I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you. (Luke 22:14)
Jesus is huddled in an upper room, about to share his last Passover on earth with the ones he’d called, the ones he dearly loved.
They reclined. Got comfortable. Ate and drank.
They talked and listened.
They didn’t understand everything that their Savior was telling them, they even bickered about it.
But still
He longed for these moments with them.
He had his heart set on spending time together on this night.
He wanted them there.
Every one of them.
Even the one who would deny before morning.
Even the one who would betray him to death.
We talk a lot about different groups of folks having (or not having) a seat at the table.
About power and privilege and having a voice.
These are important conversations, no doubt.
I believe Jesus was a sweeper of the edges, an advocate for the marginalized.
I believe he toppled ethnocentric, patriarchal expectations.
And I believe he welcomes us all to the table.
Friend, you are welcome.
More than that, you are eagerly desired.
Come.
Come get comfortable, come eat and drink.
Come listen and ask and argue, even when you don’t understand everything.
We, too, are the called ones, the ones dearly loved.
Jesus eagerly desires to spend these moments with us.
With you.
Whether or not the world tells you that you have a seat, you are welcome, of this I am sure.
Come.
Come to the table.
A little bit of everything... 