Live fully in the community God has designed for us Part 2

You can read Part 1 here

As Christians, most of us realize that we are not to live this life in complete isolation. Even as a confirmed introvert, who thoroughly enjoys (and desperately needs) alone time, I can wholeheartedly declare, I cherish community. Real community. That profound and sometimes messy place where we share experiences and strengthen bonds through laughter and tears.

In the ancient world, sharing meals together provided a way for communities to give each other a sense of belonging. Indeed, how often in the Gospels do we read of Jesus sharing meals with all kinds of people? His critics didn't refer to him as a friend of sinners for nothing. Jesus welcomed outcasts when they crashed a gathering; he even at times invited himself to join them at their meals.

The Meal with Sinners, Sieger Koder

Likewise, we know Jesus ate many meals with his disciples. Even the Pharisees wanted him as a guest at their table. Yet, the religious leaders and the disciples have more in common than just sharing meals with Jesus. Sadly, they both often and openly despised the kinds of people Jesus eagerly desired to share a table with.

Social norms, cultural regulations, and even religious interpretations of God's word, consistently allowed the disciples and the religious leaders to keep certain people on the margins. Yet, much to their chagrin, these were the very same people Jesus kept welcoming into his circle by inviting them to share community.

Let's consider a couple of passages from Luke's Gospel to see how Jesus engaged certain people – and how the religious leaders and his disciples reacted to his community building efforts.

One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. There in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body. Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not? But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way. Luke 14:1-4

Healing of Dropsical Man, Decani Moneatary fresco, Serbia

Why all the attention? Maybe because in the previous chapter (13:10-17), Jesus heals a woman on the Sabbath. In the temple. In view of a lot of inquisitive people.

Taking advantage of their unwavering attentiveness, Jesus questions the noble and learned religious leaders: Is it permitted in the law to heal on the Sabbath day, or not? Consequences abound, however they choose to answer.

If it is unlawful to heal on the Sabbath, then the prominent Pharisee invited a law breaker into his home. But, if it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath, then their admission will forever disrupt their understanding of God and how they minister. Is it no wonder they remained silent?

With all eyes opened and everyone looking at him, Jesus proceeds to show them the correct answer to the question: He heals the man.

Following this timely disruption to the meal, Jesus turns to his host and tells him, the next time you invite people over to your house, don't be stingy with the invitations. Forget inviting your friends, family, and other distinguished guests – those with the ability to reciprocate in kind. Instead, invite the people Jesus would invite – those on the fringes of society. Those you prefer to ignore.

The Sabbath is not, nor has it ever been, a proper excuse to ignore peoples' needs. Rather, God created the Sabbath to remind his people that he gives rest for all his creation. When Jesus acknowledged this man's dilemma and then provided for his need, he gave him rest. As the body of Christ, when we, like Jesus, acknowledge and meet the needs of those who suffer, we honor God's intent for the Sabbath.

When we provide rest for God's creation, we can begin to live fully in the community God has designed for us.

Let's look to the other passage in Luke.

As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.

Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God. Luke 18:35-43

Bartimaeus the Blind Man

Aware of the lively commotion passing by and the realization that Jesus walks near, a blind man raises his voice and cries out for mercy. But those closest to Jesus, those who led the way, rebuke the blind man and tell him to be quiet.

Bravely, the blind man ignores their attempts to silence him. He cries out even louder, Son of David, have mercy on me! Aware now of the man in his distress, Jesus calls him closer. He asks, What do you want me to do for you?

To be a part of the crowd that walks with Jesus is a privilege. As we walk with Jesus in this world, many voices cry out from the margins, have mercy on me. Louder and louder they seem to cry each day, have mercy on me! How will we respond?

When we pass by a woman crying out for mercy because she has suffered domestic violence or sexual assault, how will we respond? When we pass by a person of color crying out for mercy because he has suffered harassment or social injustice, how will we respond? When we pass by refugees crying out for mercy for they have suffered the loss of their homes, their family and friends, their livelihood ... how will we respond?

Have we, like the crowd, shamed them in their efforts to call attention to their plight or have we, like Jesus, called them closer and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”

When the followers of Jesus tried to silence the blind man, they attempted to deny him the dignity of using his God given voice. When the followers of Jesus rebuked the blind man in his distress, they denied him the respect any person created in the image of God deserves. On that day, if those closest to Jesus had their way, the beggar would have remained blind and on the road – denied healing and community by those passing by.

As followers of Jesus and co-laborers in building God's community, Christians don't get to decide who's in and who's out or who gets to speak and who doesn't. Rather, like Jesus, we get to tune our ear to the cry of the desperate and respectfully invite them to express their needs.

When we lovingly welcome, attentively listen, and sincerely inquire how we can best help, then we can begin to live fully in the community God has designed for us.

Part 3