20 July 2025, Have you eaten? Genesis 18:1-10, Luke 10:38-42

Sermon: Have You Eaten?

Scripture: Genesis 18:1-10, Luke 10:38-42

Date: 20 July 2025

Good morning, everyone! Today, I'd like to begin slightly differently. Usually, I greet you loudly with a cheerful "Good morning!", but this morning, I want to greet you in Korean instead.

Ready? Here it goes: "Achim deusyeotseumnikka!”

I'm sure you're wondering what that means. When I say that, I'm literally asking you—translated, it means, "Have you eaten breakfast?" A strange greeting, right? Let me explain. If I were to greet you in the afternoon, I would naturally say, "Good afternoon." But in Korea, people commonly greet each other with, "Have you eaten lunch?" Now you can probably guess the evening greeting. That's right! It's "Have you eaten dinner?"

In Korea, checking on someone's meal is the natural way to say hello. Isn't that amazing? I genuinely think this is one of the most unique greetings in the world! Think about it. Most greetings we know, like "Good morning" in English, "Bonjour" in French, "Guten Morgen" in German, "Buongiorno" in Italian, or "Ohayo gozaimasu" in Japanese, all focus on the time of day. They're connected to the clock. But the Korean greeting? It's connected to the kitchen! It's a completely different approach.

As I mentioned in our church newsletter, every single time my mum in Korea calls me, her greeting is always the same: ‘Son, have you had lunch or dinner… whatever the time?’ I used to look at my watch and reply, 'Yep, it's way past lunchtime!' Sometimes I'd jokingly tell her, "Mum, this is Australia! I'd have to really try hard to starve. If things get desperate, I suppose I could say… there are so many kangaroos!" Yet, guess what her first words were the very next time she called? "Son, have you eaten?"

So you might be wondering why. What's with all the attention to eating? It's not merely an amusing habit. It has a deep historical background. Throughout the 20th century, Korea went through enormous hardship. Under Japanese occupation, food and resources were taken away to support World War II. Then, only five years later, the Korean War devastated the entire nation. Korea was an incredibly poor country. For that generation, every single meal was about survival, and having three meals a day was a true luxury.

Back then, asking "Have you eaten?" wasn't casual small talk. It was literally about survival, a heartfelt expression of genuine concern, meaning, "Are you okay? Are you managing to survive?" Though Korea is now a wealthy country, that spirit of concern remains embedded in their language. A person's well-being, starting with the most basic need for food, was the concern of the whole community. My neighbour's survival was my survival. This greeting was a constant reminder that "we are in this together."

When my mum asks me if I've eaten, she's not really asking about the food. It's her language of love. She's truly asking, "How are you? Are you healthy? Are you safe and doing well?"

In many parts of the world today, including Australia and Korea, we live with an abundance of food. We no longer need to pray for our "daily bread" just to survive. We've moved beyond that; we now seek higher quality, more delicious, and healthier meals. And this is certainly a blessing. But sometimes I wonder, with all this abundance, have we forgotten the true meaning and purpose behind the food on our tables? Because of this, we now face a new kind of hunger—a spiritual and emotional hunger. Our stomachs might be full, but inside, in our inner world, we feel empty.

Mother Teresa spoke of the poverty she saw in modern society. She said it wasn’t about a lack of money; it was something else—loneliness and spiritual emptiness. She described a hunger for God, a hunger for real love, a hunger for forgiveness, a hunger for genuine hospitality. This is the hunger I see today. It's why so many people feel they have nothing, even though they seem to have everything.

Let's reclaim the real meaning behind that Korean greeting. Let's ask the truly important question hidden in "Have you eaten?" Let’s look into each other's eyes and sincerely ask, "How is your heart today?" This greeting isn't just about checking if someone's eaten. It's an expression of care. It's a tangible way of saying, "I'm thinking of you. You're welcome here."

Today, I want to share with you the only way I know to truly satisfy that spiritual hunger. It begins with receiving God's love and willingly inviting Him into the very centre of our lives. But it doesn’t end there—we are also called to show hospitality to our neighbours.

Practically speaking, though, what does it look like to welcome Christ into our lives? And how is that connected to welcoming our neighbours? To find the answer, let’s visit the two remarkable Scriptures we read today.

First, we travel back to the ancient desert in Genesis 18. Here we see Abraham resting under the scorching midday sun. He looks up, sees three weary strangers approaching, and without hesitation, runs to them. He asks them to stay, washes their feet, and prepares the finest meal possible. Abraham thought he was simply showing kindness to strangers, but in this extravagant hospitality, he was meeting God face to face… welcoming God himself. And here’s the powerful truth for us today: God doesn’t always come in lightning or loud heavenly voices. More often, God meets us through the ordinary people in our lives. Sometimes He sends us someone who looks tired, lost, or worried about their next meal. Other times, He sends opportunities to help in ways so small we hardly notice them. I believe when we welcome people as they truly are, we create a sacred space for God to appear. In a very real sense, we're opening our hearts to Christ. Isn’t that a beautiful, amazing way to encounter God's presence?

Now let's jump forward in time, into the village of Bethany, in Luke 10. Here we meet two sisters, Martha and Mary. They joyfully open their home to the most special guest—Jesus. But their story immediately presents us with a question we all face when we invite Jesus into our lives: What’s the best way to welcome the Lord? Is it through our busy hands, working hard to serve? Or is it through quiet, focused worship, listening at His feet?

We often reflect on this passage and quickly conclude, "We should be like Mary." But let’s not forget Martha’s beautiful heart as well. She represents the active, eager desire to serve and care for the physical needs of her guest. Without her practical hospitality, there would have been no meal to share. Meanwhile, Mary reminds us of the very heart of hospitality: simply being fully present with the guest. We see that the key isn’t separating service from worship. It’s an invitation to first sit at our Saviour’s feet, allowing our hearts to be filled with His peace and His word, so that our service becomes joyful, not anxious. In fact, I believe it's a beautiful invitation to combine the two: working for God and being present with God; serving our neighbours and simply being with them.

This is the great mystery of hospitality we see throughout Scripture. Sometimes, He arrives as the least expected guest. Sometimes, He comes as a stranger. And sometimes—like in today's stories—He appears clearly as Himself. In every case, Abraham, Martha, and Mary were deeply blessed. Why? Because they welcomed Him wholeheartedly. In their own unique ways, they each responded to the deeper question hidden behind my mum’s familiar greeting: "Have you eaten?" Yes, they weren't just welcoming strangers and guests; they were welcoming our Father, His Son, and the Holy Spirit. It reminds me of Jesus' words in Matthew 10:40: "Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me."

My dear brothers and sisters, I still remember the day I had my very first JNC conversation. I was so nervous—because I had to meet church members for the first time and have a conversation with them, asking and answering questions to get to know each other. Even now, I still feel a bit nervous standing in front of you, so imagine how I felt back then! To be honest, I don’t remember anything about what we talked about or how I spoke or acted. It’s all a blur. But there’s one thing—just one thing—that left a deep impression on me.

Can you guess what it was? It was the morning tea… like something from a hotel!

We met at Robin and Bob’s home, and I could feel the warmth in their hospitality—the kind smiles, the welcoming faces of everyone there. Of course, you can’t fully get to know someone from just one or two hours of conversation, or even by reading a church profile. But that day, your hospitality said everything. It was truly extraordinary. It felt like we were sharing that special Korean greeting: “Have you eaten?”

And in that moment, I felt my heart open. I felt so strongly that God was leading me. It was powerful. Not just words, but a real expression of care. That’s how deeply I felt welcomed. Our identity is not defined by us, but by the hospitality of God, who first welcomed us through His love.

In the same way, God often uses these simple acts of hospitality—the small things we share and do—to bring unexpected joy and transformation into someone’s life.

How about we take one step further in this spirit of hospitality? Instead of a passing "How are you?", let’s sincerely ask, "Have you eaten?" Let’s become a community that nourishes each other's hearts and souls. And not only within our church. Let’s take this hospitality beyond our boundary, into the wider world around us, towards neighbours we don't know yet, people who need help, those facing loneliness, emptiness, and even struggling just to survive.

But seriously, what matters most is remembering that this spirit of hospitality is exactly what Jesus Himself showed us, and all true hospitality begins by first welcoming the Lord into our hearts. That is why I encourage you to invite Him by saying, “Come, Lord Jesus, be the guest of my life.” When we sit at His feet like Mary and joyfully welcome Him like Abraham, our lives will be transformed.

My prayer for all of us this week is this: That we’ll actively serve like Abraham and Martha and be lovingly present like Mary. Let’s show hospitality both inside our church and in our wider community. This is truly a taste of heaven here on earth, the real spirit of God’s kingdom. And remember, when God sends someone into our lives to welcome and show hospitality, it might seem challenging at first, but it’s actually an opportunity. Because through these encounters, we experience unexpected joy, we meet God personally in those we welcome, and they become channels of blessing in our lives.

One day, when the Lord welcomes us into His eternal banquet in heaven, I wonder what delightful desserts He’ll have waiting for us. I imagine a table beautifully set, overflowing with His generosity and love. Perhaps there’ll be biscuits, cakes, and treats we've never even dreamed of, all perfectly made with the sweetness of His grace. And yes—don't worry, I'm absolutely certain He'll have gluten-free options too!

But the real sweetness of that heavenly feast will be the joy of being fully welcomed, fully known, and fully loved by God. Imagine Jesus gently smiling at us and saying, “My dear child, I remember every moment of hospitality you have shown to me and to others in my name. Thank you for welcoming me. And now, it’s my turn to welcome you… Have you eaten?”

Now, as you return to your daily lives, carry with you this beautiful spirit of hospitality. Remember, the Lord has already set a table for you.

"Come," says Jesus, "Everything is ready." Amen.