Discernment

"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’ But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.

“But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:2-14

I am at a conference and today we are asked to focus on discernment - to examine how we have changed and how the world around us has changed. I don't know is my immediate answer. But the world has changed overnight. Nelson Mandela died yesterday. Things are very different than a few days ago. We all have an opportunity to reflect on the influences around us, on the people that have changed our world and what we are going to do to change our present world. The invitation is there to be a part of it all.

Jesus tells the people a story of a wedding feast that people are too busy or too distracted to attend. Most of us miss a lot when we are too busy or too distracted by the tasks in our lives. God is asking us to stop from time to time, to wash our faces, dress the part and be ready to change to the world. For each of us and many times in our lives, God issues the invitation to come and celebrate, to stand with the people and to declare God's presence here and now.

Today as I enter into this time of discernment, may my heart be open to God's invitation. May we leap with joy to the invitation from God, the world has changed and now is the acceptable time. May we like Nelson say yes to the divine urging to live for others, and to be willing to walk the hard roads for the healing of the world.