Many Will Come to the Table

When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.
And when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him. That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.” Matthew 8:5-17

Come to the Feast

There is room for you
weary and tired aching
empty and alone
the table is set for you
the food is cooked for you
and you are welcome anytime.

An alien in the country
a leader of the invading army
he saw the work and believed the signs
and came to Jesus for his dying servant.

A woman lying sick wracked with fever
she has but breaths left
she has no will to go on
she lies in hope but aches to die
and he makes her well.

There is room for you
weary and tired aching
empty and alone
the table is set for you
the food is cooked for you
and you are welcome anytime.

A stranger with a chronic disease
an outcast with leprosy
a death sentence and abandoned
fearless in their loss they reach
they ask and God draws near.

Three days dead Lazarus lies
his sisters torn asunder by their loss
anger on their lips and yet they ask
they silently hope for resurrection
and their brother rises and they tremble
knowing God is in their midst
God is with them in the sorrow.

There is room for you
weary and tired aching
empty and alone
the table is set for you
the food is cooked for you
and you are welcome anytime.