Scripture: Romans 9:1-5. Psalm 147:12-15,19-20. Luke 14:1-6. Lectionary #
14:1-6:

This is one of the most significant passages for Christian-Jewish
Dialogues, namely, Romans chapter 9. We have Paul's deep emotional
commitment to his Jewish roots. We see how he yearns for them as a Jewish
Christian who has undergone a profound conversion. His is not an easy life
nor an easy task. It leads to asking the question in the light of the
Gospel of Luke who has so many of his narratives about Jesus based on
table-fellowship and discussions with the Pharisees either in the synagogue
or at a home. Certainly family and friends are welcomed into table
fellowship and our hospitality. But how do we welcome people of a different
religion with different rules and customs even at table? Paul is agonizing
about his brothers and sisters who are members of the People of God, the
Israelites, the Judeans, the Pharisees. He is separated from them because
he firmly believes that Jesus is the Messiah. Realizing that the Jewish
people have the adoption and election as people of God and that they have
the Patriarchs like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob he wants them to be like he
is, but God's ways are not necessarily the way he sees it nor the way we
see such differences. True worship happens in the Temple in Jerusalem
during Paul's time, the promises are made to his people, while he affirms
he is a Benjamite and a Phariseee. According to the flesh, that is the
Davidic line, he accepts that Jesus has fulfilled one of the requirements
for being the Messiah. How is table fellowship then possible? Since
Vatican II there is open dialogue with the monotheistic religions of
Judaism and Islam (although this is a later development than
Jewish-Christian dialogue). Dialogue is a form of table fellowship. We
are able to work at common ground issues regarding social justice, peace
seeking, and equality and absence of prejudices against others who may not
believe as we do. We pray the Psalms and search for deeper relationships
with others and this helps us to remain in dialogue and at table. In
today's Gospel we begin a series of table fellowship events with Jesus and
the Pharisees. Jesus helps the religious leaders in the synagogue to see
that freeing one from the burden of dropsy even on a sabbath is not
breaking the spirit of the sabbath rulings. He heals him so that the man
is able to partake of the table fellowship offered by the Pharisee. Human
compassion and hospitality spring from the being of a person united to the
Creator. Doing things that are prescriptive is important too, but being
one who heals so that others may partake of table fellowship is better.
Yet, Jesus is fulfilling both the sabbath and the table fellowship in his
own inimitable way. Being is not opposed to doing, but being is at the
heart of the question for us a God's people. Amen.