Isaiah 25:6–9
On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever. Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. It will be said on this day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation. Isaiah 25:6–9 (NRSVUE)
In Isaiah chapter 25, we find a scene set in the midst of a grand banquet. The setting is a lavish feast prepared by the Lord himself on Mount Zion. As I visualize this scene, my favorite image is that of a diverse gathering of individuals from all nations and backgrounds, ‘all peoples.’ Among those seated at the table are the poor, the oppressed, the marginalized, and the outcasts. They have all been invited to partake in this feast as a symbol of God’s inclusive love and mercy. The atmosphere is one of joy, celebration, and unity as people from different walks of life come together to share in the goodness of the Lord. What an amazing image of victory over death, of paradise.
I recently returned from a trip to Norway with some of my siblings. Coming from a ‘mixed marriage,’ Swedish father and Norwegian mother, the Scandinavian countries are near and dear to me. Being there feels like home. My distant cousin, Bente invited us for a lovely feast. Gathered throughout Bente’s house were members of her family, some of her friends, as well as others she had met through her volunteer opportunities. Fourteen nations, varied backgrounds, ages and income levels were represented. It was a remarkable, joy-filled day. My siblings and I talked about the love in the room and how we felt at home, because it reminded us of Thanksgiving Day on the Nelson farm. Our kitchen and dining room tables each seated 12 without extending them. We remember adding extra leaves, finding chairs and putting up kids’ tables as people kept coming – relatives, neighbors and people Mom or Dad knew would be alone that day, people of all walks of life. After we said the “Come Lord Jesus” table prayer, my uncle would say, “Just a foretaste of the feast to come.” For years, I thought he meant the spread of food before us. Then one year Uncle Bernum responded with, “A foretaste of the feast to come. This is what heaven will be like.”
I shared that memory and today’s text with Bente who is a young, wise 91-year-old. She smiled and said, “And that is why my prayers to God always end with ‘Tusen Takk’ (a thousand thanks).
Questions for Reflection:
- What glimpses of heaven do you see in your daily life?
- How can we intentionally live out our ‘foretaste of the feast to come’ through welcoming and serving others?
Prayer:
Lord God, we know you have prepared a feast for us, a mansion with many rooms, a promise for our eternal life. As we rejoice in the promise of salvation, help us create a heaven on earth for others through acceptance, unconditional love and humble servanthood. Amen.
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