The Invitation
God on Monday
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Then the king said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ (Matthew 22:8-9)
Reflection
Planning a wedding banquet can take months or years. According to the award-winning wedding planner Nicole-Natassha Goulding, ‘the general consensus is one year in advance is enough time to plan your standard, local wedding’.
In this parable, Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to a king preparing a wedding banquet for his son. It appears that no expense has been spared, as cattle had been reared specially for this event, and a large number of guests had been invited.
The invitations received, however, no acceptances. The invitees were too absorbed in their own projects to take a break to share in the joy of others. Some even captured, mistreated, and killed the king’s servants who issued the invitation.
How many times have we ignored sharing in the lives of others because we are too fixated on our own affairs? It is easy to do, as most of us lead full lives, and have multiple goals and commitments.
But we regularly need to stop, stand back and consider whether our preoccupations, however laudable, have a negative impact on other people and on our relationship with God. In doing so, we will be fulfilling a key purpose of the Sabbath (one of the meanings of the word is 'to stop').
In the meantime, space has been made available for the king to invite all and sundry to the banquet. Everyone who walks in off the street is welcome. There is no heritage divide, no gender divide, no class divide, no language divide. As the invitation is for all, it is totally inclusive.
God is not only inviting you and me to share in the lives of others, especially those who are marginalised. This parable also teaches us that God is inviting us to share in the life of God’s son – Jesus Christ, and to experience its joys.
Everyone has the choice whether to accept or reject the invitation. It is a decision for us to take each day, wherever we are, in the face of all that preoccupies our attention.
Response
Go out of your way to get to know someone less respected and privileged than you are. Consciously allow yourself to see that person as someone God is inviting to a celebratory feast. What difference does this make to the way you treat them, and others like them?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you that your kingdom is open to all who accept your invitation. Help us to hasten and not delay in accepting the invitation you have issued to us, and in sharing that invitation with others. Amen.
This Week's Author
Lisa Leonce, Diversity and Inclusion Director of the Kyria Network; CEO and Founder of efiL-Coaching; Co-Founder of the Sheerah Network.
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God on Monday is produced in partnership with the Church of England. The reflections are based on the scriptural readings designated for the next Sunday in the Church's lectionary. You can sign up to Faith in Business here to receive each God on Monday instalment.
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