|
Heart to Hungry Heart
Pastor Seth
Luke 5:33-39
Often accused of being a glutton, it’s no small wonder why Jesus garnered this reputation: the man is constantly eating. The Gospels are filled with story after story of Jesus sitting down at tables, dining with the wrong crowds, passing the picnic basket of abundance, cooking breakfast on a beach for his friends, even presenting his own body as a meal of remembrance. He’s like Uncle Billy in the movie, It’s a Wonderful Life, when George Bailey asks him what the three most beautiful sounds are in the world, and Uncle Billy responds with: “Breakfast is served, lunch is served, dinner is served.” Jesus has a habit of finding any excuse to share a meal with people, and the religious elites were less than enthused.
Preceding our passage today, the Pharisees critique Jesus for his choice of company at a banquet in the house of Levi. Jesus reclines at the table with tax collectors and sinners, people accustomed to disapproving gazes, the sting of exclusion, and passerby’s cautiously walking to the other side of the street upon approach. The Pharisees weren’t happy with the fraternizing going on, making their opinion known to Jesus, who responds, and I paraphrase, “these are my people.” They then go on to critique him again, this time on why he and his scandalous associates continue to eat and eat when they could be doing something more “spiritual,” which is where our scripture this week picks up.
As we hear these words from Luke 5:33-39, I invite us to consider why Jesus is so focused on eating together.
Continue reading...
| 
