“Plenty of Room in the Covenant”
March 5, 2023
Dear brothers and sisters, grace and peace be to your from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.
How many of you are planning on going out to eat after worship today? Don’t worry – this morning’s sermon is going to be a bit shorter than most, so you still should have plenty of time to get to where you want to eat. However, think about this: have you ever gone to your favorite restaurant, especially on a Sunday, only to find that there seems to be a huge crowd ahead of you? And, have you found that you’ve had to wait longer than you’ve expected, and even though there seem to be places open, or at least opening, there doesn’t seem to be any room for you? Baffling, isn’t it? So, usually, you have one of two options: you can either stay and wait for a long time, or you can try to go eat somewhere else. However, on a Sunday, you’re probably going to be a bit out of luck anywhere you go – you’re going to have to wait until there’s room available anywhere. And, of course, if you don’t already have a reservation, you’re in even more trouble – you’re going to have to wait even longer while room gets made for you.
Well, fortunately, there is somewhere on a Sunday you can come to eat, where there is always room for you: right here in church. Today, as we celebrate Holy Communion, we come together to eat and drink. As we do so, Jesus Himself is really and truly present with us in the bread and wine, and He promises us all a place at His table. There is plenty of room for you. No matter who you are, the kind of week you’ve had, or the kind of life you’ve been living, Jesus personally invites and welcomes you to His meal this morning. There is a space already reserved for you, because Jesus has made the reservation for you. Furthermore, this morning we will be returning to receiving Communion at the altar rail, to show us that, as we gather as family groups and friends, we ultimately gather as the family of God, at His meal served at His table. We do so as equals, all receiving the same amount of bread and wine, and therefore the same Jesus, the same spiritual power, and the same grace. We are also all reminded that we are saved in the same way: by faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins, and the promise of eternal life. We have this promise from the Bible itself, as we hear, in both the First and Second Readings, the promise made to Abraham.
And who was Abraham? Was he a great man? Yes. But he really wasn’t a great man to begin with. Nothing is really known about him before he gets mentioned as having lived in Ur, but then being randomly called by called. He had no pre-existing qualifications that would have caused him to be deserved to be called by God to leave his home and journey to a new one, where a great destiny awaited him. Even then, his destiny seemed to be elusive: as we hear in today’s reading from Genesis, he had to travel a long way, and had to deal with the fact there were already people living in the land God had promised him. He then had to keep on going before he finally got to where he needed to be. But notice that at each place he stopped at, he built an altar to God. The reason he did so was to show that he still was following God’s lead, and trusting that, at each place he stopped at, God was taking him safely to his final destination. Also, even though Abraham and his wife, Sarah, were well past child-bearing age, God still promised that they would have a son who would spawn a great nation. Abraham had nothing to go on to believe that this would happen except faith. Just like we have to have faith that, eventually, enough people will leave to make room for us at the restaurant we want to eat at, Abraham also had to have faith and wait for God to carry out His promise. This nation was further called for a special purpose: to carry out God’s love and care for the whole world. And today, we, who share the same faith and trust in God as Abraham, are part of that nation. The God who made that promise to Abraham in the Old Testament, is the same God who makes the same promise to us today: that everyone who believes in Him, trusts Him, and believes that He does what He promises, is part of the nation, His holy people, the Church, and has a place, in which there is plenty of room. All who believe are part of the same covenant, or promise, God made with Abraham, which still exists today.
Furthermore, this being part of God’s family, and part of the covenant, just like with Abraham, happens not because we already prove ourselves good enough, or we have a good reputation, but because of our faith. We believe, therefore we are already counted as righteous and holy. No good works we do contribute to our being accepted and saved: God already accepts us just as we are, and, every day, makes us become more like Him, mentoring and guiding us each day.
We also see Jesus doing this with the Samaritan woman. Technically, He should have no business talking with her, because she is a woman, and a Samaritan, people who were considered outside the covenant. But that doesn’t stop Jesus from associating with her, because He makes no distinctions or restrictions: He sees people in need of help and healing. She also possibly was looked down upon in her own community because of her relationship status. But notice that, even there, Jesus also does not put a value judgment on the woman’s relationship history. He simply states the facts of her life as they are in order to show He knows about her, and is more concerned for her overall condition than passing any judgment on her life’s situation. He continues to accept her as she is, patiently answering her questions. One of these is where the proper place to worship God is. He reminds her that, since God is the God of all people, He is available to everyone, everywhere, and at every time – and that she is included in the “everyone.” Even though, according to the laws of the time, she shouldn’t be included in the covenant made with Abraham’s people, because she believes in Jesus, she is still included. Jesus is not only available to us this morning, but every day. We only have to accept what He offers.
But what He promises her is something more than just being included: He promises her true refreshment, Himself as living water. He gives Himself, His power, grace, and mercy. And you are personally invited to receive this living water from Jesus today. If you are struggling; if you are hurting; if you are tired; if you are feeling sad, then you are more than invited to come and be refreshed by Jesus. He understands what you’re having to go through, what you’re having to suffer, and He has exactly what you need. Maybe there’s something else that’s making you thirsty right now: something’s happened that’s caused you to feel drained and exhausted. You’re spent, and have no more energy or will to fight or even keep on going. Jesus invites you to come and be renewed and reinvigorated by Him. Your situation isn’t hopeless: Jesus is here to pick you up and give you new enthusiasm and purpose again. Maybe you need a change to your life: Jesus can change you if you let Him. Just like a drink of water, or any drink of choice, helps us to feel refreshed, Jesus can provide eternal refreshment. So as you come to receive Communion, come and be refreshed by Jesus, and accept the new life He gives you today. There is a place already set for you – come.
Now may the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
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