We all have a place at the Lord's table

“Sit down with us. There’s plenty of room.” My Mother often greeted visitors with these words as she pointed to the supper table. My Mother always made certain that she had enough food to share with friends, and any others who may join us at our table. She had a gift for making all feel welcome, but most of all she made everyone also feel that it was “not a bother.” My Mom’s attitude modeled Jesus for me. As we know through Scripture, Jesus "found" food for the five thousand who came to hear Him preach. Or when simply inviting sinners to join him for dinner, Jesus always made room. But most of all, Jesus showed it “was not a bother.” In fact, Jesus’s mission was to make room for everyone at His Father’s table, and to show every guest it was not a bother for His Father either.

As my Mother loved to see people around her table, she made them truly feel that it was her honor to serve them. Jesus came for these same reasons. He wanted all to be reconciled with His Father and have them smile as they dined on the food of God's mercy. This seems to be the most delightful part of His ministry. Jesus loved it and it was never “a bother,” even when He died for us.

In this way, Jesus is showing us how He found room, even for those who arrived unexpectedly or empty-handed, and He wants us also to find places in our homes and hearts to feed the hungers of those we meet along our way. This is the hospitality God sent Jesus to share, because truly it is God’s hospitality in the first place.

When Jesus shows up unexpectedly and asks us to do something for Him, will we be willing and ready? When Jesus sends someone to sit at our table, because they are thirsty for love or hungry for direction, do we ask them to sit down and share in the abundance of our time and space? Or when celebrating an achievement or personal accomplishment, do we make room for Jesus to sit down and share in our success and good fortune? We know it is because Jesus feeds us first, we can share in our everyday joys!

There are many ways, we can make room for Jesus in our lives. As my Mom demonstrated, we can do it by sharing our table and the goodness of our hearts to those in need or in the countless other ways Jesus desires. So why not turn to Jesus today and say warmly "Sit down. There’s plenty of room!”