“Love one another” these words are the teaching of Jesus, known as the new commandment. Maundy, from the Latin, mandatum, means commandment, and refers to the commandment of Jesus offered on the night of the last supper. The Thursday of Holy Week is known as Maundy Thursday. Jesus had gathered in the upper room with his disciples where, on the night before he was crucified, he was sharing the Passover meal with his friends. Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, an act of humility and service. He offered the new commandment to “love one another”. In the offering of bread and wine at the Passover, Jesus invited is disciples and us all to partake of Communion in remembrance of him, instituting the Sacrament of Holy Communion, also known as the Eucharist.
My name is Sharon and I, like you, am a disciple. I am humbled to be part of The United Church of Canada’s “A Place at the Table.” I wonder how you are finding your place at the table? How are you connecting in ways that invite us into our own unique faith experiences and expressions, each of us, embracing our personal identities as disciples?
Being disciples is not an identity many of us readily use as a term to describe ourselves. Our tendency to refer to Jesus twelve close followers, as revealed in the New Testament is more our go to for context and comfortable connection. when we pause to think about it and reflect, we are all invited to “a place at the table”. We embrace belonging. We are all beloved, all included, all needed, all valued, all invited to be disciples.
We all need to know we belong, but is this invitation really for all of us?
“Peter fairly exploded with his good news: “It’s God’s own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. The Message he sent to the children of Israel—that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again—well, he’s doing it everywhere, among everyone. (Acts 10:34–36, The Message)
The Acts passage for Easter Sunday (Acts 10:34–43) opens in the midst of the encounter of Peter and the household of Roman centurion Cornelius, in a transforming life-changing moment. At Cornelius’ invitation, Peter shares the story of Jesus, who he is and his message of love. In this moment of sharing, Peter shares that this message is for everyone, all people, with no exceptions.
How are we loving neighbours, really loving one another? In this time of chaos all around us, we, as disciples, invite others to hear our stories of Jesus’ transforming love in our own lives. Within and beyond the walls of our communities of faith, we are being invited to stretch ourselves, confront bias, advocate for equity, celebrate diversity, live bold belonging, to include all people with invitation, embracing the stranger, sharing curiosity, generosity, and exploring how we all have a place at the table.
Let’s really live “a place at the table". Be expansive to strengthen invitation, deepen a relationship, offer radical hospitality, foster new friendships, do a new thing, invite another, learn…a message, a meal, a listening ear, a pause, a prayer, a spiritual practice, a creative expression, a service, a study, guest speakers, a cause, a challenge, a community partner connection.
Sense the urgency of needs and longings of people to experience brave space to explore, question, wonder, and discover together best practices to love one another! Reflect the diversity of our country, engage our gifts of uniqueness, and respond to needs with resilience, flexibility, and adaptability.
What words of hope can you share? United Church people are being invited to share "100 Words of Hope" that draw from deep spirituality to speak to these moments of high anxiety and change in the church, Canada, and the world. We invite you to share your own 100-word reflection, poem, or prayer that conveys hope and faith in these times.
The Theology Inter-Church Inter-Faith Committee invites you to share your unique discipleship journey. How have you grown in your faith? How have you connected with others? What challenges and triumphs have you experienced?
We are surveying the land, listening to what our neighbours in our contexts are communicating. Spiritual seeds are being planted and are sprouting, offering new hope. We are all part of the village creating a resilient, inspired, diverse, multigenerational, rural and urban church that spans coast to coast and connects with others globally. Our communities of faith are active, vibrant, and working together, engaging the opportunities for continued rebirth, valuing all voices, singing new songs, learning to dance and thrive and flourish in new ways.
“We sing of a church seeking to continue the story of Jesus by embodying Christ’s presence in the world. We are called together by Christ as a community of broken but hopeful believers, loving what he loved, living what he taught, striving to be faithful servants of God in our time and place.” – A Song of Faith
Stay faithful and resilient! We all offer our gifts and our ministries in so many ways. Your prayers, words, time, talent, support of and care for others is Christ ministry, living the Jesus way. Whether it feels like baby steps or a big leap of faith, risk it, love one another, and be open to come to the table to be fed body, mind and spirit!
—Rev. Sharon Ballantyne is a growth animator for the United Church in Atlantic Canada and a disciple in A Place at the Table.
The views contained within these blogs are personal and do not necessarily reflect those of The United Church of Canada.