Gospel: Luke 14: 15-24
Today's parable contains two striking features. The first regards those who were initially invited to the king's banquet. They consisted of the usual attendees at royal banquets - the rich, the powerful, the influential. All gave reasons of self-interest as to why they could not come. Some of the reasons seem rather trivial to us. But they have been to the banquets many times. They are bored by them, and find their own pursuits of greater interest to them than attending another palace dinner.
The second feature is the order given by the king to his attendants. They were to go out and invite anyone they encounter without qualification - the poor, the outcast, the foreigner, everyone. What is more, no litmus test or any entry criteria exist. The king's attendants are simply to invite everyone to the royal banquet. The attendants were not instructed to serve as bouncers or as a panel determining who was worthy and who could or could not attend.
Many people who have repeatedly been excluded from the royal banquet greatly desire to attend while its regular attendees are indifferent to the invitation. As the king's attendants it is our task to invite everyone to the banquet of the Lord, to make no hindrance or barriers to their entry. It is not for us to change people. The banquet itself will change and transform all who attend. The banquet is not the reward for change; it is the catalyst of change and transformation itself!
No comments:
Post a Comment