Hapag: At the Table

by Pastor Alex Ruelo

In the Filipino culture, the table is very important because this is where stories are told, laughter is shared, and lives are connected. But in Bible times, eating at a table means acceptance. And for them, you should not allow sinners to eat with you at your table.

Jesus told several stories to demonstrate how you should behave at the table. Luke 15 tells of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son. In these 3 stories, something is always lost, someone is always out looking, and in the end, there is a big feast to celebrate what was lost. Jesus is showing that His joining people at the table has a bigger goal - not to make Himself full but to bring back those who are lost and save them in the process. The table can do wonders depending on how you use and view it.

A taste of the heavenly feast (a foretaste of God’s kingdom) - Every story of return in the Book of Luke ends in a feast. This shows that the Kingdom of God is described as a wonderful feast in which salvation is celebrated. In the Jewish culture and tradition, the table is the primary source of salvation and the coming of the Kingdom of God. Robert Farrar, a theologian, once said, when Jesus dined with His disciples and sinners, He began to give man a taste of what heaven will feel like when one man repents. Every meal in Jesus’ name is no ordinary meal. It is a taste of the everlasting banquet of the Lord.

Approach the lost (reaching out to the lost and rejected) - While religious leaders continue to alienate and reject, Jesus conscientiously gravitates towards sinners and those who are lost. The Pharisees have a very strict guest list. The people who eat at their table have to be in the same class as them, holy in their eyes and fit their standards. But Jesus purposely goes to people who are avoided by society and rejected by religion. In the story of the lost sheep and the lost coin, the shepherd and the woman did not wait - they went and looked for that which they had lost. The table of the Lord is not exclusive. It is open especially to those who are hurt, broken and lost.

Peace and reconciliation (reconciling and uniting different people) - In spite of shame and sin, the father goes out and takes the first step in bridging the gap between his two sons. Food brings with it culture, stories and history. When you feast at a table, walls are broken. When you open a table, you give a space to the Holy Spirit to heal wounds and bring together people who are hurting.

Abandon pretense (dropping facades and embracing grace) - There was no more hiding. He had to admit his ultimate failure. Instead of judging him and getting angry at him, his father clothed him in the finest robes to take away his shame and guilt, a sign that beauty and grace is yours to accept. It is a blessing. Oftentimes, we do not want to invite guests to our home because we think everything needs to be perfect. But man is not looking for perfection. They are looking for a table that will welcome them with open arms. Remove the pressure to impress. Your audience of One only wants real love and acceptance.

Gladness over the found (joy and celebration over the return of the lost) -  This is the pinnacle of the entire chapter. The heart of God in His table is a heart of complete acceptance because of all who have returned to Him. He doesn’t judge and He doesn’t condemn. He  welcomes everybody with open arms because those who were once lost are now found. When the prodigal son went home, he wasn’t welcomed with anger and a sermon. The fatted calf was killed so that a feast could be served in his honor. On the other hand, the elder brother was angry and jealous because his father had not celebrated him at any point. Whose heart do you possess? Do you have the heart of the father who has nothing but love or the heart of the brother who was fuming with anger?

What can we do to be ready to sit at His table when the time comes?

1. Intentionally seek and invite the lost. The shepherd did not just sit and wait for his lost sheep to come back. He left the 99 and intentionally searched for that 1 sheep until it was found. Don’t wait for people to ask for a seat. Actively pull up a chair for them. Look around you and see who is standing on the sides. Take the initiative, step out of your comfort zone and invite them to your table.

2. Clear the clutter to create a safe space. The woman lit a lamp, swept the house and removed all the obstacles to find what was immensely valuable to her. Clear away the pretense and the anxiety of perfection to make room for people. What keeps us from practicing hospitality is our own hesitation. We worry too much about everything else that we lose sight of what is really important. Focus on lighting the lamp of genuine warmth, creating an authentic environment where visitors feel valued, welcomed and safe.

3. Extend grace instead of judgement.  When the broken son returned, the father did not lecture or punish him. He ran to embrace him and threw a grand banquet. The older brother, however, stood outside with crossed arms, bitter that grace was given to someone unworthy. Celebrate like the father and refuse to grumble like the older brother. When someone with a messy past steps into your territory, fight the urge to judge or whisper. Be the first person to offer a welcoming hug, pull a chair or rejoice with heaven that someone who was once spiritually lost has now come home.

When you come to a table, would you rather be greeted with people who are pouting or who are smiling? The table should be a welcome invitation always. You never know who needs a warm meal to fill their stomachs and most importantly, their hearts. God is always inviting us to His table. It is our choice to sit or to walk away and sit at another’s. His table always has a chair for us. Sit and rejoice.