1 St. James United Church 1 Kings 17:7-16

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1 1 We ve been talking the last couple weeks about hospitality; specifically the hospitality of God. We do hospitality really well here; warm welcome, coffee. But the real power of hospitality is that through it God cam make miracles. Video Le Chambon from documentary Weapons of the Spirit (youtube: Did you catch the answer when Sauvage asked why? ( We were used to it ; its what we did. It was dangerous, risky, costly, but it s what we did.) It s who we are. It s who we are as Christians. We Christians come from a long tradition of offering hospitality to strangers. Ruth is the story of 2 women, Ruth and Naomi, journeying to Bethlehem, where Naomi is from, after years in Moab, the place their husbands died. Hungry, afraid, exhausted, Naomi (a Jew) despairs God has forsaken them they will die. It is Ruth (a foreigner) who says, Let me go to the field that I may glean among the among the grain. (paraphrase 2:2) It is Ruth who reminds Naomi that among the Hebrews hospitality, care of the stranger, is part of faith; it s what they do. When you plant a field, God says, do not harvest all of it, but leave the portion at the edges so weary travellers (strangers) may eat. (Leviticus 19:9-10) ---- Did you know that when Jewish people celebrate the Passover meal there is always an extra place set at the table to await a welcome guest; Elijah? The Passover meal enacts their story; remembering all God has done for them. 5 cups of wine sit on the table; 4 corresponding to 4 expressions of God s promised redemption (I will take out of suffering in Egypt, free you from bondage, redeem you, make of you a nation all of which God has done by end of Exodus).

2 2 But, the 5 th cup is for a future promise; fulfillment God s covenant with Abraham; I will give you/descendants a land where you are now an alien/strangers for a perpetual holding and I will be [your] God. (Genesis 17:8) The NIV says everlasting possession. In Hebrew the word is achaz meaning to grasp or take hold of (not ownership but in trust). The roots of the Hebrew people, which are our roots too, are deeply embedded in this identity of being the alien, a stranger; one for whom God cares. Jesus too knew a lot about being a stranger. He was a good and faithful Jew and our Old Testament (given or take a few books) was his bible. Those Passover cups symbolizing freedom from suffering and bondage (sin), God s redemption, calling a people, and the giving of a kingdom; that s who he understood himself to be. The Exodus story is ours. We are all of us strangers, travellers in a land not our own (God s), all of us in need, none of us deserving, and all of us fully dependent on the grace and mercy of God for our life and our provision. Strangers played a big part in Jesus ministry. He was always eating with them, talking with them, listening to them, welcoming them, healing them, praying for them, forgiving them, redeeming them. Strangers (those estranged from God and people) were his preferred company. Whether it was being blind, lame, a sinner, a Gentile, Jesus was always working to bring people closer to God, but you can t do this without first bringing them closer to other people.

3 3 That s what the healing stories are; Jesus removes the barrier that separate people from others (disease, sin). In showing hospitality we participate in the healing work of Jesus; worldly boundaries have no place in the kingdom of God.. Hospitality is the essence of our worship. Every Sunday we gather around the table and are fed; the Word, Living Bread (Jesus s body), wine (cup of the covenant), water (baptism). In worship everything gets turned around; we are the stranger who comes hungry for life, wholeness and blessing, and by God s grace we are fed and our life is renewed. Worship is God s hospitality to us. In July we invited people for dinner; anytime after 4:00. This meant, starting about 9 in the morning, vacuuming, dusting, washing the floors, ironing the table cloth, setting out the good dishes, going to the grocery store, rushing around to get it all done, all the while trying not to yell at my family or trip over the dog. The goal - get it all done in time everyone thinks I didn t do any of it. After all, Martha Stewart never breaks a sweat. 4:00 came and I was exhausted. The thing with hospitality is I tend forget it s not about me. Hospitality is all about our guests. Comfort, acceptance, caring, warmth; these things people remember more than the food, the linen, or any overlooked dog fuzzies blowing across the floor. Hospitality is creating safe space, a welcoming place, where all may come, be who they are, bring their hurts and weariness and sadness and rest in God.

4 4 There is a story about Elijah (prophet) and a widow (Zarephath). (READ 1 st Kings 17: 7-16) I love this it s a great story about the meaning of hospitality. 1) Why does Elijah go to Zarephath? (God tells him to). 2) Why does God tell him to go there? (God has commanded a widow to feed him, it s her calling) 3) When he goes does find it? (no she hasn t enough, doesn t offer it) 4) What does he do? (asks for water and bread, she s should know, God told her, but Elijah draws hospitality out in her) She has only a little bit (oil, meal). Not enough. In fact she is preparing to die. 5) Then what does Elijah say to her? (Do not be afraid her fear binds her to her scarcity, she cannot imagine there being more, all she can see is not enough) 6) Then what does she do? (she trusts Elijah, first make a little cake for me and then feed yourselves, she heeds the stranger come messenger of God, and the oil and meal do not run out) First make me, says Elijah. Feeding the stranger first, sharing hospitality, sacrificing everything (after all she believed they were going to die), putting the stranger first is what opens the door for God s abundance. We re told she and her household ate for many days.

5 5 The other interesting thing? Elijah stayed. Hospitality is usually shortterm; people come, visit, eat, rest, and go on their way. But Elijah stays and in staying her relationship with God grows and deepens through him (remember he s the stranger). What do we make of this story? Maybe it s just to wrestle with the questions like the widow did? Who is the stranger God is calling us to welcome? How might the person we don t know, or who is different from us, call out God s love in us? How might the stranger in our midst be God s way of deepening our relationship with him? And heaven forbid - What if they stay? will it mean for us? Will it change us? A story - 3 churches in a town. St. Andrew s closed recently so they decided to join St. Bartholomew s similar theology, both congregations steeped in tradition, both struggling financially & spiritually. St. Christopher s on the other hand (odd place interfaith dialogue, serving at soup kitchens, marching in the pride parade, politically active), while also struggling financially, was characterized by diversity, openness to difference, and willingness to risk. Sadly, the joining of St. Andrew s and St. Bartholomew s didn t last and St. Andrew s again found itself without a home, but not for long. Different as they were, as unlikely a match as they were, St. Christopher s put out the call come be with us. There is room for you here. They threw open their doors and their hearts to a grieving and

6 6 hurting people and by the grace of God together they have found renewal, energy for mission, and joy in being together. Through St. Christopher s commitment to welcoming the stranger, and their willingness to trust in God, God has given both congregations more than they could have ever imagined the jar of meal was not emptied, the jug of oil did not run out, and they continue to eat for many days. We have a group here at St. James like that the Tuesday Ladies Stitching Group. More than once an unexpected stranger has appeared at the door of this church on a Tuesday morning sad, lonely, in need of a friend. And these ladies have taken them in, thrown arms around them, shown them in tea, crocheting, and conversation just what the hospitality of God looks like. This group (all over 70) are branching out this fall Joy of Stitching, their gift of mentorship, learning, and friendship is a true expression of hospitality of God where women of every age can come, share what they know (sewing, knitting, cooking, baking, gardening, music etc), learn from each other, grow faith and community and together meet the Christ who dwells in the midst of them. (Please pray for this group) (Rublev s Trinity icon Russian 15 th c.) This looks like an image of Jesus eating at table. Who did Jesus eat with (saints & sinners) Some see the 3 angels who visited Abraham under the oak at Mamre. (Genesis 18) Remember the Emmaus story he was known to them in the breaking of bread? (Luke 24:31) Could also be that story. Actually it s the Trinity (L to R: Father, Son, Holy Spirit) the nature of God. We are each created in the image of God. But we are most fully the image of God in community (3 in 1). When anyone is left out the whole

7 7 is diminished Father, Son and Spirit (you can t have one without the others) (pause ) Christ-centered community, empowered by the Spirit, caring for the stranger; this is what God looks like. The miracle of Le Chambon? When ordinary people extend hospitality to strangers God will do amazing things. What miracle has God got in store for St. James? To whom are we being called to open the door, welcome in, and extend the ancient practice of Christian hospitality? God makes miracles, saves lives, heals hurts every day. It s when the meal is nearly gone and the oil run out, when all we can see is what we don t have, and death feels too near that God always does his very best work. Do not be afraid, says Elijah. Show hospitality. Welcome the stranger. Put their needs first. Do this and you will have more than you can ever imagine. Thus says the Lord! What are we waiting for?

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