Invited

‘Then he called his servants and said to them, “My wedding feast is ready, but the people I invited did not deserve it. Now go to the main streets and invite to the feast as many people as you find!’ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, good and bad alike; and the wedding hall was filled with people.’  (verses 8-10)

Read Matthew 22: 1-14

If you thumb through the gospels you can see how often Jesus is at somebody’s party. He attends a wedding reception. He parties with sinners. He tells stories about wedding feasts and about parties to celebrate the return of a lost sheep or a lost son. Then there’s the feast Jesus turned on for over five thousand people, the last supper with his disciples, and the breakfast of barbecued fish on the beach after his resurrection. All this feasting is a foretaste of the greatest and happiest party of all in heaven.

Who is invited to the great wedding banquet in heaven? The good and bad alike are invited. That fits in well with the kind of person Jesus is. He didn’t hesitate to get close to the worst sinners and losers. He invites all. It doesn’t matter how terrible you think you have been, or how unworthy you are to come into God’s presence, that’s no problem. God’s kingdom is for sinners. Jesus loves you, he died for you, he forgives you. ‘It was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us’ (Romans 5:8b).

Thank you, Lord, that even though I am a sinner, you have forgiven me and made me one of your children. Amen.

by Vincent Gerhardy, in ‘Living Water for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2001)

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