Thursday 5 April 2007

We continue looking at the parable of the great dinner.

One of the dinner guests, on hearing this, said to him, "Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!" Then Jesus said to him, "Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, 'Come; for everything is ready now. But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a piece of land, and I must go see it; please accept my regrets.' Another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my regrets.' Another said, 'I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come.' (Luke 14:15-20) So the slave returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to the slave, 'Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.' And the slave said, 'Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.' (Luke 14:21-22)

Remember the meal was ready. It was ready to eat and it appears as though many were not coming. We are not told that all of the original guests did not come. What we do know is that there is going to be great waste and the excuses for not coming angers the host. We also know that the doors are made open to those who were not originally guests. That means "guests" would be sitting with and eating with people who were not on the original list "of preference." We all have those kinds of lists - that's life. Imagine what that scene of mixed guests must have been like. This mixing is intensified by the ones who are brought in. In some ways, this first group of people is a kindly gesture by the host. These are the ones the community needs to be considering and the ones for whom they must act every day. Ar these not the ones who would benefit from alms giving? If the guests who were originally invited have now turned down the time of the feast - why not extend the offer to those know in the community - those in need. Now, even these local outsiders are guests. The dinner has been expanded and those who would usually have to beg for food are treated to a feast. Will those original refusing guests be there at the next dinner?

Connection: The hospitality within the Reign of God today is one that asks that we keep our eyes on those who are not at the table and make sure that they are also given an invitation. Who knows who will want to come to take part in the rich grace of this party. And yet, there are many who will not hesitate to come to the meal - invitation is so necessary.

Lord of the Meal, even as you extend your loving presence to all, many turn away to follow the whim of their lives. That is at times all of us. And yet, your Reign continues to offer invitation and encouragement to all people. By your grace, keep us mindful of opportunities to graciously see and embrace and welcome those who may not be considered among our list of guest - now. Amen.