But isn't it true that we find 'better' things to do? Don't we ignore the invitation and go away, "one to his farm, another to his business"? Isn't it true that we are so protective of our time that we become almost violent to defend our right to spend it how we please? In that way we are like the rest who "laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them." It seems extreme until we realize how aggressively we defend our prerogative of scheduling our own lives.
Somehow we insist on choosing much less enjoyable things than feasts. We insist on the daily grind. We can't let ourselves celebrate, rejoice, or rest, because of this ever present drudgery that demands our attention. We feel as though we must be ever vigilant or everything will fall apart. Therefore it is to those who know that life is beyond their control that these invitations go.
Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready,
but those who were invited were not worthy to come.
Go out, therefore, into the main roads
and invite to the feast whomever you find.’
The servants went out into the streets
and gathered all they found, bad and good alike,
and the hall was filled with guests.
Paul has the freedom to come to the feast. He is an example for us. He knows how to live in whatever circumstances life deals him, be they humble or abundant. He doesn't trust in himself to pad his own life with abundance. He "can do all things in him who strengthens" him. He knows that "God will fully supply" whatever is necessary. His grip on his life is loose enough to accept God's invitation to the feast.
The LORD is spreading a table before all of us this morning, the good and the bad, before friends and even in the sight of enemies. All are invited to the feast of the Eucharist. We need to set aside our need to carefully regulate everything, just for a moment. We need to just be open to the goodness and kindness the LORD wants to show us.
The LORD is inviting us to this table in order to wipe away tears. He is inviting us, ultimately, to destroy death forever. He clothes us in robes of purest white and calls us to rejoice and be glad with him.
On that day it will be said:
"Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!
This is the LORD for whom we looked;
let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!"
For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.
Today is that day! Let us not be too busy to receive it.
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