Come to the Table, Part II

Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners (Mark 2:15, NLT).

Last Christmas I hosted a girls night. The opportunity to open my home, and share a meal with people I care about is something I always dreamed of doing. One of my favorite pieces of furniture is my dining room table. It represents so much more than just a surface on which to eat. I want my table to represent a space of comfort and safety. I want it to be a place where people can gather, welcomed without judgment and open arms, to not only share a meal, but their hearts. 

As I looked around the room last year, my heart surged with gratitude for all the people the Lord has placed in my life. What I loved most is the fact that I knew, not only the faces of those gathered at the table, but their hearts as well. Different ages, different backgrounds, and different faith stories did not serve to divide us–instead, it is what uniquely drew us together over the past couple of years.

When I said yes to an opportunity to spend a week at the beach 2 years ago, I didn’t realize what I would be receiving. While a week in the sun and sand was amazing, it created something so much deeper. It was the beginning of a connection between a group of women who look differently, think differently, and all have different stories of trauma and tragedy that have served to unite our hearts in a unique way. 

There isn't much that has played a more valuable role on my spiritual journey than gathering around a table with those I love. So many names and images flood my mind. Friends and families that have welcomed me into their homes to gather around their tables. Sharing a meal was the excuse to get together, but it opened the door for us to cultivate relationships, learn more about each other, share laughter, and dive into deeper conversations that would connect our hearts—all while filling our bellies.

Gathering together is a Biblical concept, and I think it's important to note that Jesus met the "worst of all sinners" at the table, too. Mark 2:15 says: “Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners.” He was challenged, ridiculed, and questioned by the Pharisess, but Jesus chose to eat with them anyway. 

If you continue reading in Mark 2, you'll arrive at verse 17: "On hearing this, Jesus said to them, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'"

To be sick means I need a doctor. To be a sinner means I need a Savior. Jesus invites us to come to His table where He meets us with free gifts of grace, mercy, and unconditional love. It is around His table that followers of Jesus will one day gather. He loves and invites everyone to the table!

As someone who loves Jesus, friendships, and food, I am especially grateful for those who intentionally choose to cultivate relationships around the table. Each time I walk through my house and see my dining room table, my prayer is to remember all those who have so lovingly extended the invitation to me to come to the table. In return, I pray I am intentional to do that for others, too.