The Great Feast

Jesus said also to the one who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” 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 out and 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.’ So the slave returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his 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.” Then the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.’” Luke 14:12-24

These days most papers have done away with society pages. I was fascinated by them as a kid. Here were important and self-important wealthy people getting their photo taken, so it can go in the paper. So that their story can be told, as if it hadn't been broadcast far and wide. Even at charity events, these folks smiled for the camera as if they had won an award.  We are invited to God's table, set for all of us, not for recognition or worldly acclaim, but for our healing and the healing of the world. Oh, that today we would hear God's invitation. 

Tender Creator, you set a table for all

those who need to be seen and honored

those who crave attention and award

and especially those who need to be fed.

Often, we get too busy to attend

or think we have enough already

but in our darkest days and our sorrows

the table is still set for us all.

When the seas roll over us you say come

when the anguish of hurt and loss appear

when the cruel hearts tear us all down

you have a place for each of us ready.

Help us today to hear your invitation

give us swift feet to run to the banquet

open our hearts so we bring others with us

make us all beloved at your great feast. Amen.