Blessed Redeemer, touch and guide the life of this dear reader into the fullness of Your life; in Your name I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Matthew 22: 1 Jesus responded by telling still more stories. 2 "God's kingdom," he said, "is like a king who threw a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent out servants to call in all the invited guests. And they wouldn't come! 4 "He sent out another round of servants, instructing them to tell the guests, 'Look, everything is on the table, the prime rib is ready for carving. Come to the feast!' 5 "They only shrugged their shoulders and went off, one to weed his garden, another to work in his shop. 6 The rest, with nothing better to do, beat up on the messengers and then killed them. 7 The king was outraged and sent his soldiers to destroy those thugs and level their city. 8 "Then he told his servants, 'We have a wedding banquet all prepared but no guests. The ones I invited weren't up to it. 9 Go out into the busiest intersections in town and invite anyone you find to the banquet.' 10 The servants went out on the streets and rounded up everyone they laid eyes on, good and bad, regardless. And so the banquet was on - every place filled. 11 "When the king entered and looked over the scene, he spotted a man who wasn't properly dressed. 12 He said to him, 'Friend, how dare you come in here looking like that!' The man was speechless. 13 Then the king told his servants, 'Get him out of here - fast. Tie him up and ship him to hell. And make sure he doesn't get back in.' 14 "That's what I mean when I say, 'Many get invited; only a few make it.'" (The Message)
When was the last time you were invited to church? Did your church send you an invitation to come and join them? If you're like me, you don't need an invitation; it's assumed that since you took the membership vows promising to uphold your church by your prayers, presence (hint!), gifts, service, and witness, that you'd be doing that on a regular basis. The last invitation you received was probably a direct mail by either a new church starting up in your neighborhood or by one who's got the money to spend on such a campaign. Pastors pray that folks will come to regular and special worship. Jesus prayed that we would come into the kingdom. Coming into the Kingdom of God involves Church, but it's more about our way of life. It's all about how we treat God and how we treat God's children. It requires our complete devotion to God and our willingness to serve. The parable that Jesus told in this passage is an eye-opening one, for it shows the reality of how people treat invitations to God's kingdom; we're too busy, we don't care, don't bother me. Yes, some even treat Sunday worship in this way.
The second part of this lesson troubles people. What can it mean? God will throw out people from the Kingdom? It's more a lesson on our lives and how we live and the readiness expected of us by God. William Barclay said, "Grace is not only a gift, it is a grave responsiblity." If we think in terms of our being invited to a friend's house for dinner, we bathe and dress accordingly. To receive an invitation to God's Kingdom involves our lives being made ready to receive and share the love God has given us. Let us not be among those not ready and shown the door for our foolishness.
PRAYER: Loving God, make me ready! May my life be washed in the Blood of Jesus in order to receive all that You might share with me. Shape my heart to give as You have given to me. May I witness to Your grace in all places. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
