Invited
What do you do when those you invite choose not to come?
He 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 apologies.” Another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my apologies.” 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
Today's Gospel reading is about respect. The invitations have gone out and those invited fail to respect the one inviting them.
Jesus uses this parable to explain why he has come. Those who were chosen turned their backs on God, so he has come to remind them they were invited, and when they choose to stay away, he goes out to find others who will come.
During this time of pandemic, people have a good excuse for choosing not to venture out. But if we follow the example Jesus gives us, we would go out to them and bring them what we have to offer.
It is not enough to make the invitation. To be like Jesus, we would go to anyone in need.
This is what we are doing in our churches. We open our doors, but we don't limit access to those who can come to us. We make it possible for those who stay home to participate as well.
Perhaps we are finally getting Jesus' message.
More to come...