Lent Reading: Week 3, Day 2 (March 26)

Reading: Luke 14:15-24

¹⁵ When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

¹⁶ Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. ¹⁷ At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

¹⁸ “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’

¹⁹ “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’

²⁰ “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

²¹ “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’

²² “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

²³ “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. ²⁴ I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”

Reflection

Just three quick reflections on this parable:

1. The image of the Kingdom of God as a banquet deeply connects with people from every culture because every culture has some focus on food, celebrations, parties and banquets. All who read Jesus' words have some experiential knowledge of this reality.

2. The gracious invitation of the man preparing the great banquet is rebuffed by various people, for various reasons. This is true also of the Father's gracious invitation to come into His Kingdom (his great banquet). With all kinds of excuses people snub God's invitation.

3. God's intention is that his banquet hall be full. Even the rejection of the invited guests does not stop the master's desire and intent to fill the banquet hall. There is going to be a banquet and God wants to others to share in the extravagant celebration.

May we respond to the Master's invitation and enter into the great banquet.