May 24 Go to Eat

Luke 14:15-24 When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” 16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ 19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ 21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ 22 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ 23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”
 
JESUS’ parable defines the Jews’ cool response to God. The Lord declared his guest list through Abraham: Genesis 12:1-2 The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.”
    He then affirmed his gracious invitation through Moses and the prophets: Isaiah 58:14 then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.” Purposefully, the Father then reaffirmed his “feast with me” invitation through the Son: Luke 22:19-20 And Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”  The Jews’ response, though, was to refuse Jesus, the Bread of Life. (See John 6.)
    Why do so many excuse themselves from the Lord’s eternal table? Should we not be eager to go and eat of the Lord’s Word? Wouldn’t we have an appetite, also, to invite others? Certainly there is no greater banquet than to “dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:6b) What then, might keep us from eagerly feasting on God’s everlasting love, forgiveness, blessing and even everlasting life?
    Could it be we do not “hunger and thirst for righteousness”? (Matt 5:6)
 
Prayer: Lord God, forgive my poor appetite for you. I pray my heart, mind and soul are eager to receive the eternal banquet you have prepared for me. Amen.