We all love a good party. I don’t think I recall ever meeting someone who did not like a good meal, great conversation, and entertaining company. We all love inviting people, making preparations, and finally enjoying the company of our friends. Social gatherings are the hallmark of Christian life, yet, something happened in the parable of the Great Banquet in Luke 14. Here the host invited, prepared the meal and no one came.
Wouldn’t we just be heartbroken? We invited, we shopped, cleaned house and prepared a scrumptious meal, and then, one by one, our friends would call and bow out of the party. And not only did our friends and neighbors bow out, they did so with very dubious reasons. Ouch. In the parable in Luke, the first man to make excuses wants to go check on his recently purchased field. It is as though a friend of ours had just bought a house online for lots and lots of money, and now this friend decided that at the time of the party he would go check out his purchase. The second respondent would rather check out his newest set of oxen….how many people buy a used car without test-driving it first? And, finally, the third man simply had a better invitation. An unlikely set of excuses leave the host of the party angry.
As we read the parable, we can relate to the feeling of rejection the host must have felt, the feeling of having wasted all his resources and energy on this meal that is doomed to go to waste, and we can sympathize with his anger. And just when we think the story is spiraling downward, the host does the most surprising thing; he sends his servant to invite the blind, the crippled and the homeless of the village and the surrounding areas.
The host lavishes his entire beautiful banquet on the least, the last and the lost. And they come. They respond to the invitation and join him at the banquet.
So, how do we “party Jesus style?”
• When invited, we show up!
All were invited, but only those who responded to the invitation enjoyed the company of the host at the banquet.
• We share with everyone!
When faced with rejection, the host did not let the meal go to waste, he spent time looking for those who wanted to join him, and then he shared the banquet with them. This is not an exclusive invitation list! This party is for everyone.
• We keep inviting!
The host keeps sending out his servant, and just like this servant we are called to never tire inviting more and more and more to the banquet.
by Dcn. Kirsten Gardner