Today’s scripture: Matthew 26:17-25 (ESV-text and audio) (KJV) (The Message) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Carla Peck):
Can you remember the last time you told a friend or relative that you would like to invite a large group to come to a meal, at THEIR house? Just imagine being able to get away with telling the family, “We are having Thanksgiving at Brother Donald’s this year, make it happen,” and poof, just like magic, the event unfolds just days later.
I am reminded of a story I heard once about a child who went to church, all by herself. The child invited the pastor to come over after church and have lunch with her mother and sister, and herself. The pastor accepted the invitation and a delightful lunch was had by all (after mother and sister scurried to end their Sunday morning newspaper reading and relaxing with curlers in their hair, rapid-fire cleaned the house, and cooked a meal acceptable for such an honored guest)!
After reading today’s scripture, it seemed to me like Jesus had the Passover meal arranged in about this same way. I consider it to be yet another miracle.
Jesus’ dinner conversation wasn’t exactly what one might expect either. Jesus said that someone at the table would betray him. Jesus even went so far as to identify that person in front of everyone at the table! Talk about a scandal! But again, have you ever experienced a family dinner gathering where the conversation caught you off guard? Perhaps you have been asked to leave the dinner after such a conversation, or abruptly left the dinner on your own free will.
With family reunions happening during the summer months and the holidays coming up in the Fall and Winter, perhaps a message that we can take away from today’s scripture is however dysfunctional we may think our family (or someone else’s family) gatherings can sometimes be, that we are just not that unique after all. Even Jesus experienced a dysfunctional dinner gathering.
Prayer for the day: Thank you, God for this story. Any shame that I feel from having dysfunction in my family can be lifted up to you. Help me to “be love” in the stressful, dysfunctional situations I encounter.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.