At the last supper what were Jesus’ last words?
“Everyone who wants in the picture get on this side of the table.”
Of course, if you are not aware that this joke hinges on Leonardo DaVinci’s beloved and famous painting of the Last Supper . . . well then, the joke just goes over your head. I told this joke once during a worship service and a portion of the congregation laughed. Fifteen minutes later there was snickering coming from the choir . . . then giggling . . . and eventually all out laughter as one of the choir proclaimed, “Oh! I get it!” Some folks are a little slow.
Every church I ever served had some sort of copy of DaVinci’s painting within the church. Most churches that I visited have some semblance of the painting hanging on a wall. And . . . why not? It is ranked number one when it comes to paintings of the last meal Jesus had with his disciples. It is a masterpiece beloved across the world of Christianity and adorns every fellowship hall from here to there. People know the painting, thus the humor in the joke.
As a pastor I used the joke more than once in communion meditations inviting those gathered to come to the table that is supposed to be open to all people . . . all of God’s children. As I told folks . . . there is plenty of room at the table. Everyone is welcome.
That is what I believe. Everyone has a place around the table. In fact, it is necessary if the idea of “one family” is to be embraced. I believe that we are called to come together as one family . . . at one table. I believe that is what Jesus taught, what he lived, and wanted.
Though the joke hinges on the idea of “getting everyone in the picture”, it recently dawned on me that maybe there is a subtle message lingering in the humor when “getting in the picture” is linked on also getting on “this side of the table”. Of course, I could be making a mountain out of a mole hill . . . but, to be inclusive and have everyone as one big family, well what is exactly meant by “get on this side of the table”?
Someone asked me when I was going to write a blog about the things I should have said from the pulpit. As intriguing as that sounds, I am not certain exactly what it is that I would want to write or say. At the same time, this might be one I would dally in. Inclusion . . . the openness, receptiveness, and welcoming of all to the table . . . is it for real in the “church”. For the church’s sake I would hope so since that is what it preaches . . . but, I don’t know.
All churches are not “welcoming” despite what the sign out front says. Not everyone is welcome to find a seat at the table unless it happens to be on the side of the table that represents that church . . . thus, “this side of the table”. The question is: What is represented on “this side of the table”? A lot I imagine.
Race would probably be firmly seated on that side of the table. Race has been a major issue bouncing around the church from the beginning. In the New Testament we see the tension between the followers who came up through the Jewish side questioning whether Gentiles could join up without first getting circumcised. I still cringe when I think about that one. That hurts. At the same time think about the mission field . . . especially the American version of missionary work. Before salvation there had to come citizenship or at least cultural embrace. Schools were set up. Uniforms were handed out. English had to be learned.
It is a proven fact, research proves it, that the most segregated time on the planet earth is Sunday mornings when churches gather. Churches are homogeneous organizational creatures. It is natural for humans to gather with others who are just like them. When it comes to church, the majority lack diversity—especially racial diversity.
My wife grew up in the heart of our denomination’s birth story. In her hometown there are still two congregations associated with the denomination—one congregation is predominantly white, the other predominantly black. They are just down the street from one another. Been that way for way over a hundred years. Both preach acceptance and inclusion of all people . . . all are welcome at the table. Yet, as both congregations face decline, they still haven’t gotten together to be one church despite the same faith roots.
I guess they just aren’t on the same side of the table . . . at least not yet anyways.
Lots of other things fit into that “this side of the table” category.
Politics? You bet. If you want to see how quickly sides can be taken and lines drawn in the sad . . . mention politics in the “church”. Nothing strikes up a church conflict than politics in a church. You’ve got your Republicans, Democrats, Independents . . . there are liberals and conservatives . . . new school and old school parties. There was a time that it was believed that politics had no place in the church. It was too divisive. The idea was to “agree to disagree and move on”. Times have changed. Sometimes political affiliation is more a standard of church membership than actually living up to the example of Jesus. Ask the evangelicals making all the noise on the news.
Religion. Can people of other religious beliefs and practices gather around the table and be welcome? What about denominationalism? Can a Methodist hop into line for the Eucharist in the Catholic Church? Can a teetotaler Baptist join an imbibing Episcopalian at the table? Or is the expectation, despite being “open and welcoming” to all, that everyone thinks, prays, worships, and love God in the same way? I’d throw those two ideas—religion and denominationalism—on “this side of the table”.
Speaking of denominationalism . . . I never understood that one. I live in a small town that is represented by numerous denominational congregations that call themselves “Christian”. Yet they can’t work together and join each other at the table. No, they have to run their own youth programs, worship services, women’s ministries, food banks, and so on down the line. Wouldn’t it be better stewardship if they would all get together at the table and work together for what works for the whole family? Instead, we only serve those on our side of the table or those willing to come to our side of the table. Thankfully, God has a great sense of humor and a whole bunch of patience with creation.
This is probably just scratching the surface of what could be thrown into “this side of the table”. I haven’t mentioned poverty and wealth, education, sexuality and gender, disability, culture, or nationalism to name a few. I imagine that anything and everything could be thrown into the discussion. It is as great as one’s imagination . . . whatever parameters we use to separate. The table is not as open as it is professed to be. Think about who you would want on your side of the table and who you wouldn’t want. Does it fit what you profess as faith? As following Jesus?
I can’t think of anyone who does not want to be included in the picture when it comes to being family—God’s family. We are one creation. All created in the image of the Creator if we are to believe our scriptures. One race—the human race. One family. Called to love one another as we love ourselves and as we have been loved by the Holy.
I still like the joke. It works in the humor department. I might be a little leery of it on the theological side, but it does make one think. Makes one think of what it means to be a part of the family of God . . . of which I believe we are all a part of it. No matter who you are. And I believe that we all want to be in the picture. We want to be family.
My favorite picture of the Lord’s Supper is not by DaVinci. It is by Fritz Eichenberg. In his depiction of the last meal, the table is not long and rectangular . . . it is round. Yeah, I know, has a King Arthurian bend to it. But it is my favorite as I think it gets close to the idea of all inclusive . . . of having everyone in the picture. What do you think?
We all want in the picture!
