Matthew under the arm 35
He couldn't resist it. Columba saw a couple at a table outside the pub, tucking into a baguette and gulping at a lager. They had been walking for some time just in front of us. Fellow pilgrims? Columba just had to find out. So, yes, we bought baguettes and lagers and sat down beside the couple. They didn't speak English, nor for that matter, the Gaelic. Anyway, we smiled a lot and laughed a lot but conversed incomprehensibly! Before long, three others came to join us, who recognised the language and could speak English. The noise levels were now getting too much for the ladies on the neighbouring table. 'Pilgrims!', muttered the lady with the yorkshire terrier under the table. Although, I have to tell you, the word 'Pilgrim' had an expletive in front of it. 'Loud-mouthed.......', she hissed. Overhearing this, Columba whispered to our table: 'Let's drink to that!'
Matthew 9:9-17….
A combination of rugid truth and a delight in freedom brings about a realisation of the presence of God in Christ. Now, Matthew is called to follow. He’s no spiritual initiate. He’s an untouchable because of what he does - he is feared and reviled. Then the Pharisees, with that pervasive disease of religious perfectionism, sneer at the people Jesus eats with. Here again – the truth – Christ knows he is eating with the despised and they know he is as well. He is one of them! Freedom.That’s where healing begins. And the enjoyment of eating together – Truth, freedom, delight – there is Christ.
My Truth within you sets you free to love and serve
Eating together can create delight, humour, compassion, learning and relaxation. Go back to a time when you had a meal you enjoyed with a group of people and relive the experience. As Jacob said after his dream, maybe you will say: ‘Behold God was in this place and I knew it not.’ Eating with someone is putting yourself alongside that person and in a way being fed by them. So in your imagination, who do you know who is poor for whatever reason? Imagine you are cooking for them and eating them and use the sentence as you imagine. In its own small way, this is intercession. Who knows what you might do next!
+Martin
Argyll and The Isles
Matthew 9:9-17….
A combination of rugid truth and a delight in freedom brings about a realisation of the presence of God in Christ. Now, Matthew is called to follow. He’s no spiritual initiate. He’s an untouchable because of what he does - he is feared and reviled. Then the Pharisees, with that pervasive disease of religious perfectionism, sneer at the people Jesus eats with. Here again – the truth – Christ knows he is eating with the despised and they know he is as well. He is one of them! Freedom.That’s where healing begins. And the enjoyment of eating together – Truth, freedom, delight – there is Christ.
My Truth within you sets you free to love and serve
Eating together can create delight, humour, compassion, learning and relaxation. Go back to a time when you had a meal you enjoyed with a group of people and relive the experience. As Jacob said after his dream, maybe you will say: ‘Behold God was in this place and I knew it not.’ Eating with someone is putting yourself alongside that person and in a way being fed by them. So in your imagination, who do you know who is poor for whatever reason? Imagine you are cooking for them and eating them and use the sentence as you imagine. In its own small way, this is intercession. Who knows what you might do next!
+Martin
Argyll and The Isles
posted by Martin at 3:15 pm
2 Comments:
This is surely a very poignant posting at this time in our church. I have enjoyed many meals with people who must even now be feeling outcasts in the church which is their life. I pray for them in their sense of rejection.
To share with the " untouchables" is surely part of what He has called us to when He called us to be his followers.
Thankyou for the reminder.
We are not called to holy huddles but to be His light in a dark world.
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