Dinner with Friends

John 12. 1 - 11

Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him.

Jesus' last week on this earth began with dinner with friends. After the "triumphant" procession into Jerusalem, he and his disciples went back to Bethany and stayed with Mary and Martha and even Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead, and they broke bread together.

This picture does not depict Judas, who discouraged Mary from using that expensive oil to wash Jesus' feet, whose heart had already begun to turn, who ultimately betrayed Jesus.

Dinner with friends is not something many of us can do right now. For some of us, it is dinner alone. And this week, which the Surgeon General tells us will be our Pearl Harbor in the battle against COVID19, we really need our friends. If you are alone or you need a friend, how can you use technology to remind you of your connection to Jesus and each other? If you need a friend, how can you reach out, where can you turn virtually to be heard and loved and connected? Or if you are connected and know someone who needs to be invited to your table to break bread with you, reach out and touch that person.

Thanks to my beloved Dean Kate Moorehead for reminding us in her early morning prayer video today that we desperately need each other right now just like Jesus needed his friends that week.

and if you need a daily meditation and reassurance that

God is in the midst of us, click here to receive Dean Kate's message.

Remembering Jesus' first day in Jerusalem.It will change your day, your life and your heart. You will know you have friends, just like "they will know we are Christians by our love!"