Two weeks ago Carl’s brother, Pastor Phil, in his sermon, described “Ruach (the breath of the Holy Spirit) and that the real meaning of “conspiracy” is ..”breathing together”…being connected and committed in a shared moment, breathing as one.
Mark 2:15-17 ~ While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and ‘sinners’ were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him ‘eating with the sinners’ and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’? On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Jesus very often was eating at a table with the outsiders, the unlovely, those held in suspicion by the religious establishment. Jesus was connecting and “breathing as one” with his friends.
How often do we invite those ‘different’ than us, those with ‘different theologies’ and ‘different ways of thinking’ than us to our tables?
How comfortable are we sitting at a table with those ‘different’ than us? Does it affect our ‘breathing together’?
LUKE 22:14-20 ~ When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”
As Jesus ate the Passover with his disciples, it was a very intimate time. We do something similar when we come to the communion table.
In what way is communion an intimate meal for you with the body of believers?
Do we conspire/breathe together as we eat together?
Acts 2:44-46 ~ All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.
Every day they met together and “broke bread in their homes”. The meal became the foundation of their community.
How often do we eat with our neighbors, extended family or strangers?
How often do we reach out to our community and invite them to our table?
