A revisiting of The First Thanksgiving.

The first Thanksgiving- Bruce Weaver and Luke Smith

When our 6th St Home first opened we placed up on the wall next to our table an image of the Last Supper. It is a familiar image to many who visit us. It was a familiar image to me and I thought I knew what it meant, what it represented. I thought I knew the story being told. But then I met Bruce, a man who in only a few words changed my understanding of what the Last Supper is.


One fall Saturday morning as we ate our breakfast, I asked Bruce what he thought heaven would be like; he simply shrugged his shoulders, as only Bruce can, and replied, “Thanksgiving, The first thanksgiving!” He pointed up to the image of the Last Supper, the institution of the Eucharist, and taught me what the Last Supper is, the First Thanksgiving. Bruce continued, “We came as strangers, we eat and we become friends, its Thanksgiving.” His smile, his words, his ability to point out the seemingly obvious, was and continues to be liberating.

Art by Sieger Koder

 How we are called to do similarly, as a family in L’Arche, to welcome each other as strangers, as we all were at some point, to share a meal, be nourished by word and food, to wash each others feet is Thanksgiving, is a celebration of, service, of forgiveness and celebration; of Eucharist.

Bruce I say to you, Thank you.

Come, Come to The Manger

Children come!

The Shepherds- John August Swanson

The first visitors to Jesus were the shepherds, a group of people who lived on edges of society, a group of people who lived in the wilderness, away from civility, viewed as the other, seen as being incapable and untrustworthy.

There were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock.

An angel of the Lord stood before them, the glory of the Lord shone around them, they were terrified.

But the angel said to them,

“Do not be afraid; I am bringing you good news of great joy for all: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

The shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.

 

Us Shepherds- L'Arche GWDC in Arlington- courtesy of Brian Taylor 

I see a great connection with our life as L’Arche and the shepherds, we aren’t at the front of the line when it comes to government policy, or even at times able to vote. We are looked at as being different, with our own way of communicating, and at times hold different values to those we share our neighborhoods with.

Like the shepherds, in our constancy, commitment and vulnerability, through our ability to say yes: a yes to going for a walk, to leading prayer, to welcoming weakness, to welcoming the messages of strangers; so we, like the first visitors to the Christ, are invited to the manger.  


I would like to share with you this song by Nick Lowe- I was born in Bethlehem http://youtu.be/gwvfwkqagrI


Happy Christmas