"Strangers at The Table" May 3, 2015

John 15:1-8 Acts 8:26-40 Implicit in our readings this morning, is the book of the Prophet Isaiah, which several of us have been reading together, interpreting together. Isaiah begins and continually returns to the metaphor of a Vineyard, planted by God... The Garden of Eden, the Promised Land of Israel, Life itself. But according to Isaiah the Vineyard thought it knew better than the Gardener, its purpose. The difficulty with any vine, grapes, roses, pansies and petunias, is that they require constant attention, deadheading, pruning and redirecting. There are times when the Vine imagines its purpose is to grow, to grow in any and every direction possible, putting out new life. The Vinedresser's purpose is to prune and train the vine. There are times when the Vine imagines its purpose is to be, and the old vines grow tough and crack open for the perpetual new life coursing through. The Vinedresser knows that the richest and hardiest clusters of grapes grow nearest the main vine, the true vine. Ultimately, the Gardener tires of fighting against the Vine, and allows the vine to be without the Gardener. The protective walls crumble, the weeds and trespassers encroach, until the vine is all but lost in the thicket of life.The wonderful part about writing parables and metaphors is that a thing once described as a vine, can be described as something completely different, like a sheep or shepherd. Or as happens in the scroll being read by the Ethiopian Eunuch in his Chariot, that being the Elect of God, the Chosen, means that you have relationship with God, but also that God uses the Elect to demonstrate and to suffer for all the world. These several different images, the Garden of Eden Vineyard, the Elect, the Suffering Servant, the Sheep are played over and over, layered against one another like the themes of a piece of music, ever searching for the resolution that the Vine seeks the Gardener to prune and train the Vine to produce good fruit. There was an Ancient Greek custom of hospitality, that you never ask a Stranger their name or purpose until after you had sat at table with them offering your food, security, home, family. There was an Ancient Roman Law that you only sat at Table with people you trusted. Many of us would more easily share a meal with a stranger, than try share with them the Word of God! Who is the most outlandish person, with whom you can ever imagine, sharing the Word of God? My parents moved when I was in College, to help us adapt our Parents held a Christmas party in which as an Ice-breaker they asked everyone who was coming for two obscure facts about themselves. In that I had worked summers in a factory processing fruit, I was listed as a “Cherry Pitter,” I was also listed as “a Bartender studying for the Priesthood.” We then had to get to know one another, by finding out who among these obscure people was whom. It really was a fun way to get to know one another before dinner. SO what are the most outlandish relationships you can imagine? The wife, of a 90 years old Iranian, gave her Egyptian slavegirl to her husband to conceive a child. When the Iranian was over 100 and his wife 80, they conceived a child, as the prime ancestor of Israel. The 7th son of a Shepherd from backwater town of Bethlehem, chosen by God to be King of the World. When the King was caught in adultery, God promises to make of him a Monarchy For Ever. After the King and the wife of another, had a child who died, their youngest becomes the Wisest King. A girl, not yet a woman, not yet given in marriage, gave birth to the Son of God, Savior of the world. Royal strangers from the ends of the earth, gift this Carpenter's son: Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. Jesus spoke with a woman who had had 5 husbands and was living with a man without marriage. Jesus spoke of a Samaritan as a hero, who had helped a Jew, when a Priest and Levite would not. Jesus called a Tax Collector of the Empire of Rome to be one of his disciples. Jesus defended a woman about to be murdered for adultery. Simon Peter who leapt at conclusions and denied Jesus three times, became the Head of the Church. Saul who so hated Christians as to have them stoned, became one, and became a Great Missionary. Peter was asked to Baptize a Roman Centurion, because he already was baptized in the Holy Spirit. I have come to recognize a difference in the First Testament and the Gospels. Not of War versus Love. Not of a God of Law versus Forgiveness, or Judgement versus Compassion. But in the First testament, there is always promise of a coming generation, faith and promise are through this generation for those yet to be, demonstrated especially in the whether to Sacrifice Isaac or circumcise. In the Gospels, the Messiah has come for us. The point is not Long long ago, or Generations yet to be, but even among the eunuchs of today, those who feel scarred, wounded, excluded, unable to produce, there is hope in you! Phillip a Greek Christian was sent to an Ethiopian Eunuch, The Minister of the Treasury of the Queen. Phillip found himself suddenly running along beside this Chariot, holding a conversation about reading the Bible. To which the un-named stranger asks Phillip: “How Can I Understand If You DO Not Interpret with me?” Second: “About Whom is this prophesied, God, Isaiah, Israel, or another?” The passage is about the Sacrificial Lamb, who before it's shearers is quiet. We had a lamb in worship a year ago, quiet is the one thing they are not! When suddenly, the stranger stops the Chariot, and looking at a mud-hole asks, “So what is there to prevent you from Baptizing me?” Three sincere questions, questions which redirect, which prune and deadhead the faithful. As Presbyterians, we are known for having rules. We are the only Christian Denomination who take pride we have a Book for Discipline and a separate book for Governance, but no book of Prayer. We like to think of ourselves as Decent and in Good Order. We have a Constitution, By-Laws, Personnel Manuals, Policy Manuals, Administrative Manuals, yet in all these there are no reasons why an Ethiopian Eunuch could not be baptized in a mud-hole. Years ago, in another part of the Country, a 75 year old woman came to me quite distraught. She described, her daughter had married a man who was Catholic and raised their children in that church, but her daughter was not allowed to receive Communion. I asked “Because she is Protestant,” she said “No because she cannot be Baptized!” She went on to explain that in the 1950s when the older woman was about 40 weeks pregnant, the Medical professionals could not hear a baby's heart-beat. The priest was called, who administered “Last Rights” anointing her pregnant belly. Three days later a healthy baby girl was born healthy and strong. The priest, declaring that he had administered Last Rights, ruled the child could not be baptized. Now 50 years later, her adult daughter still could not receive the Sacrament with her family because she had never been Baptized. Reading this passage from Acts, I asked the Session “SO what is there to prevent the Church from Baptism?” And she went on to live a happy life as a Roman Catholic. What will it take for us to realize that God's Table is larger than we can ever envision? If we can recognize all these obscure outlandish individuals gathered at God's Table, why can we not even pray or share God's Word with our own spouse and family? There are only two times when Jesus is recorded as having celebrated the Sacrament of Communion. First on the night in which he would be betrayed and abandoned by all whom he trusted and loved. Second, after the resurrection, when he was a stranger to those on the Road to Emmaus, and only in the breaking of the Bread did they recognize him. Look who gathers at Christ's Table! Travelers, Strangers, each with the face of Christ.