“You’ll watch outsiders
stream in from east, west, north, and south and sit down at the table of God’s
kingdom. And all the time you’ll be outside looking in—and wondering what
happened.” Luke 13:29 (The Message)
One of my favorite
movie is “Babbette’s Feast” based on the short story by Isak Dinesen. Babbette
flees to Denmark, avoiding political upheaval in Paris in the 19th
century. She cooks and keeps house for two elderly sisters in a tiny village
set on the remote and beautiful coast. For 14 years she serves the sisters, and
the only link to her past is a lottery ticket a friend in Paris renews for her
each year. One year she wins the lottery and uses the money to prepare a
high-quality feast for the sisters and their small congregation. The scene is
filled with all the delights of a wonderful banquet, and is the outpouring of
Babette’s gratitude.
