Just think about musicians as one example. First, there’s the choir of Westminster Abby, which includes 20 boys, 12 adult singers, a choir director, and an organist. Then, there’s the Chapel Royal Choir, 10 more boys and 6 more adults. Next is the Fanfare Team from the Royal Air Force. The reception will include traditional music from the Prince of Wales’s Official Harpist and a performance by Ellie Goulding, a British pop star. Finally, after all the formal stuff was over, a celebrity DJ was expected to fill Buckingham Palace with the sounds of classic and modern rock, ranging from The Monkeys and Johnny B Goode to Bon Jovi and Queen, all the way up to Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas, and Lady GaGa.
And that’s just the music. Think about all the other people helping. Dozens of people around both William and Kate have devoted most of their waking hours over the past six months organizing all the proceedings. The royal florist and his massive team are preparing mountains of flowers and at least 8 fully grown trees which will be moved inside Westminster Abby. The Queen’s army of 21 royal chefs (and countless assistants) prepared a reception for 650 guests, which included no less than 17 Royal fruit cakes - not kidding. The Royal Wedding Invitation itself, although simple, required a host of designers, printers, and couriers. A literal army of photographers, journalists, TV reporters, bloggers, and videographers documented every minute detail of the wedding. Builders and remodelers were put into action for everything from custom flower pots, to stages, to photo backdrops. Westminster Abby provided a large team of priests to plan and to perform the wedding. Also, you can be sure that the Royal Family had several offices of accountants and lawyers working full-time on all of the financial and legal issues surrounding this huge event. I imagine that every hair stylist and makeup artists in London was busy on the wedding day. 5,000 standard police officers took to the streets to ensure order, and that’s not even counting the Royal Family’s personal security team. And last but not least, women around the world were intrigued by Kate’s dress, but every guest was required to wear uniforms, formal wear, or “lounge suits.” (I don’t even know what a lounge suit is!) Needless to say, quite a few tailors have been working around the clock to get ready for this.
Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son” (Matthew 22:2). Psalm 23 says God prepares a feast for us, anoints our heads with oil, and fills our cups to overflowing. The prophet Isaiah explains God’s plan of redemption like this: “In Jerusalem, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will spread a wonderful feast for all the people of the world. It will be a delicious banquet with clear, well-aged wine and choice meat” (Isaiah 25:6). When John the Revelator sees heaven, he hears a choir so large it sounds like thunder sing, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself” (Revelation 19:7).
God is the great Host. God has prepared a space for us in his world. In fact, he has prepared our entire world as a guesthouse for us to live in. God provides food and company and friendship for us. With the coming of spring, I’m always amazed at how careful God was to add beauty to our world.
But relationship with God is more than living in this created world. Relationship with God is enjoying the Father’s hospitality on a more personal level. God has planned a great feast of love and friendship, with God loving people, people loving God, and people loving people. God invites us into his great wedding celebration to share in his joy and love. Amazingly, in this great feast, the King himself gets up and serves us. Listen to how John describes this in our gospel lesson.
John 21:1-17
1 Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. 2 Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.
3 Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.”
“We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.
4 At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. 5 He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?”
“No,” they replied.
6 Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.
7 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. 8 The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. 9 When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.
10 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.
12 “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. 14 This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.
15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”
“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.
17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.
This is a beautiful and mysterious text, and we could talk about it all day. I just want to point out two things.
First, Jesus made breakfast for his disciples, and they knew who he was. Maybe he cooked for them a lot. Maybe they recognized the special smell from the spices he used. Jesus cooked for them, and then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. Remember, Jesus is our perfect picture of God. When we see Jesus, we see God. Here we see the resurrected Christ cooking and passing out food. God loves hospitality.
Second, Jesus calls us to follow his example. Three times, Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?” Three times, Peter says yes. Three times, Jesus says, “Then feed my sheep.” The point for us is simple. If you love Jesus, live like Jesus. If you love Jesus, live God’s hospitality. Feed others. Care for others. Make space for others in your life. If you love Jesus, practice hospitality.
In Christianity, there are two fundamental arenas for hospitality - the church and the home. These aren’t completely separate.
The Royal Family planned a huge wedding, a large reception, and a massive after-party. However, there were tens of thousands of satellite parties happening in ball rooms, pubs, clubs, and homes all around the U.K. and around the world. You could go on the net and download party plans and recipes for the food at the royal wedding. They were celebrating the same thing in many of the same ways, just in smaller venues.
The church - and especially the Sunday worship service - is like a big weekly wedding party. We are all coming together, working together, celebrating together that God is in love with us all, that Christ has died for us all, and that the Spirit is working to redeem us all. To do this party right, we need help from everyone. Just like the royal wedding, we need artists, musicians, accountants, graphic designers, builders, florists, planners, cooks, writers, photographers, advisors, greeters, priests, theologians, and lots and lots of people to move things and arrange things. Listen to how Paul describes this huge party we call Church.
1 Corinthians 12:12-31
12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.
14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?
18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. 28 Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church:
first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages.
29 Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? 30 Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! 31 So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.
But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.
We need you. You have a role in this party. You have a gift to bring to share with all of us. You can come and watch and eat and sing and go home - with your gift still in your pocket. But if you do, the party will be a little less because you didn’t share. And WE all will be a little less because you didn’t share. And YOU will be a little less because you didn’t share.
Last week, I had an appointment to talk with one of our new church members about helping me in a special way. When I finished explaining what I wanted him to do, he asked why I wanted him to do it. I explained that he has a unique perspective to share. Because of his place, position, perspective, and personality, he has wisdom and insight that others don’t have. We need his voice. Then his face lit up with a big smile. He said, “I’m so pleased that you asked me. Now, I know that I have a place in this church.”
You all have a place in this church. But there are more than 100 of you. I can’t go to all of you one by one to help you find just the right place. I’m working on it, but that will take too long. We need you to take the initiative. Step up. Find a place of service. Find your place in the party. If you do, you will make us a better church, and you’ll find joy in the process.
Our Sunday worship is a huge Jesus party - celebrating his amazing love and power to change our lives. But there are smaller satellite parties happening all the time. Any place where we gather with other Christians is a satellite celebration of the big Church party. We’re celebrating the same thing. We’re living the same party. Jesus said, “Where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them” (Matthew 18:20). When you are at home, when you take people out to lunch or out to coffee, you are planning a little satellite party of the Church.
These satellite parties have amazing power. Listen to how Luke describes the satellite parties of the first Christians.
Acts 2:42-27
42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity —47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
Hospitality changed the world. Jesus laid down his life for them. Then, he cooked fish for them. Then, he sent them to share his life with the world. They met together for the big party meeting in one place for the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the Lord’s Supper, and prayer. Then, they did satellite parties - meeting in homes and sharing meals with great joy and generosity. They laid down their lives for each other, and they cooked for each other. And people loved it. “Each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”Hospitality is contagious. When we start loving and sharing and celebrating with great joy and generosity, that changes people. They want in on the action. They want in on the love. People around the world are hungry - but not just for food. We are hungry for community and generosity, for love and joy. People around the world are hungry for the Party of God, for the hospitality of God.
Ed Rowel is pastor of a church in Colorado, and their has a long-term partnership with a church in Ethiopia (similar to our partnership with Bangladesh). Rowel says his American church is learning a lot from their Ethiopian brothers and sisters. "For them, poverty is primarily about a lack of relationships ... If they have a little bit of food and a lot of love, they will always have enough to share. But if you don't have loving community and deep friendships, you are poor indeed. As busy, disconnected [people], we tend to be resource-rich but relationship-poor... They're teaching us a simple but profound lesson: we desperately need community to grow in Christ. As a matter of fact, I now think that community may be the biggest missing ingredient in the ... church” in developed-nations.1
He’s right. We are “resource-rich but relationship-poor.” But we don’t have to stay that way. God is inviting us to the biggest, most powerful party that ever lived. We can participate in the amazing Church of Jesus Christ. We can each bring our own gifts - whether it’s flowers, or music, or counting money, or playing with kids, or running PowerPoint, or welcoming new people. When we all celebrate, and when we all share our gifts, this party blossoms into a world-changing event.
Then, we can go home from the Big Party to our satellite parties - sharing the same love and grace that we experience here. We can be little world-changers, simply by sharing some fish or kimchi or coffee.
When we become relationship-rich, we really can change the world. It starts by accepting God’s love, forgiveness, and new life through Jesus. Then, it moves outward by living God’s party way of life with love, forgiveness, and generosity. This is the gospel. This is why Jesus came. This is why the Church exists. This is why we exist on this earth. We are God’s people called to be a loving community that changes our world.
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