Daily Devotion for May 26, 2024

 

Devotion:

For an audio version of this devotion, click here.

Read Luke 22:14-20.

Today in our worship services, we will be invited to come to Jesus’ table and receive his meal of grace. Our Scripture focus will be Luke’s description of that moment when Jesus blessed and distributed the bread and wine to his disciples, inviting them to remember him as they received these elements. However, my primary focus will be on who was at the table with him.

Earlier this week, we looked at the listing of the disciples, particularly noting that Matthew the tax collector and Simon the zealot were among Jesus’ disciples. So, they were at the table with Jesus that night. I wonder about how long it took Simon to get over his struggle with being at the same table with Matthew. To be a zealot would have meant that he absolutely hated tax collectors, who worked for the Roman government. They were seen as traitors and a true zealot would look for any opportunity to kill one of them. I wonder when Jesus first convinced him to stop thinking “I cannot stand to be in the same room with that man!” I’m sure there were other differing issues among the disciples as well and Jesus invited them all to follow him and to eat at his table.

What might it look like today for the Church to still represent our Lord in this way?

Personal Worship Option:

One of my favorite prayer hymns was written by Fred Kaan in 1974. I invite you to find all four verses (“Help Us Accept Each Other”) but will just share the last two here:

Let your acceptance change us, so that we may be moved in living situations to do the truth in love; to practice your acceptance, until we know by heart the table of forgiveness and laughter’ healing art.

Lord, for today’s encounters with all who are in need, who hunger for acceptance, for righteousness and bread, we need new eyes for seeing, new hands for holding on; renew us with your Spirit; Lord, free us, make us one!