Long, long ago, airfares dropped between Chicago and London so that it actually cost less to fly to London than Los Angeles. So once again, we found ourselves in London on holiday.

When we travel, we like to be both spontaneous and in control. We made a list of places we wanted to see and things we wanted to do. Sunday afternoon was assigned a specific place, but first was Sunday morning. That meant church.

We went to All Souls Church. Back then, that meant John Stott. We got there on time and had a seat. We could see that there was some community life in this church, that it was a lot more than just the church where John Stott preached. We felt more or less at home. This happens in other parts of the world, too, so it’s not just an English-speaking thing. Even if we don’t understand the language of the church where we're worshiping, we’re at home.

At the end of the service, as we walked toward the back, we started talking to a man. He was a regular attender. He showed interest in us. We answered his questions, and he seemed especially keen on our missions background. We got to talking and it was hard to stop. We didn’t want to stop talking and neither did he.

Then, he invited us to his home for lunch. What were we to do with this unexpected invitation? We were on holiday, and Sunday morning may have meant church, but Sunday afternoon, well, that meant a museum or a gallery or a park. We explained that we had our plans. He understood and wished us well. We parted ways and went on to the expected part of our day.

Looking back, I don’t recall what places we visited that Sunday after church. What I do remember is that kind man's invitation and feel a sadness about what that Sunday lunch may have held for us. We will never know. I like to think that I am different nowadays—choosing the family of God over the art, artifacts and trinkets of human achievement.

Jesus didn’t hesitate to accept dinner invitations from tax collectors, sinners or Pharisees, and he always brought the unexpected to the table. In Luke 14, Jesus was dining with a ruler of the Pharisees. It almost sounds as if the Pharisees were anticipating the unexpected from Jesus as they carefully watched him (Luke 14:1), and Jesus didn’t disappoint them. After calling out the Pharisees for their hypocrisy and pride of place, he turns to his host with a guest list for his next dinner or fancy banquet: “When you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” (Luke 14:13-14)

One day we will sit down with that man from All Souls. Jesus opens the door and invites us in. He serves a feast, lamb seasoned with spices and placed on a table with freshly washed and neatly folded linens. He is risen.