I Cannot Come To The Banquet!

20th Sunday after Pentecost from Matthew 22:1-14 KJV; Jesus invites all people to come to the banquet. Do you actually desire to partake of this meal?

Choose Justice; Choose Peace

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

                      (Prov 13:20-21 KJV)

I have been accused of being legalistic on more than one occasion. I am not (at least not usually). I have been accused of it because I truly prefer to attempt to obey the law and not offend God or harm any other persons.  I would genuinely love to live in peace. I consider obeying the law, no matter how trivial the law may seem, as a small way to keep peace around me and in the world. I am not saying that I never break the law. We all sin in some ways and breaking the law is sin because it causes a break in community. Sometimes, we do this with intent. At other times, it just happens. It may possibly "just happen" because we haven't bothered to think about the consequences of our words or actions. Often, our desire to break with the law, causes damage to ourselves or others. There are  consequences to our words and actions whether good or bad.

However, there are times, that we might (must) act in peaceful civil disobedience for the good of others; for the sake of justice. When we do this we also acknowledge that there still may be consequences. This is also not to say that there are not any times when we  might actually have to defend ourselves or others for the sake of justice and hopefully peace. Conflicts and wars are, at times, necessary to protect ourselves or others.

But, to follow in the ways of anyone whose purpose is solely to profit themselves without considering others is not the wise path to follow. There will be consequences. Hanging out with those who would consistently do what might harm others; that might harm society as a whole, is not wise. It will lead you on a path that is not according to the will of God. That also is not to say that you should never minister to them. We definitely should. But, do so with the integrity and with the strength to say no when you are invited to join in the sinful; the unlawful, way.  

Choose justice. Choose to live in peace and do what is right in the eyes of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Strangers We Meet

And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

                                       (Luke 24:13-15 KJV)

As rumors swirled around about Jesus being killed and then rising from the dead, two men were on their way to Emmaus. Along the road they met Jesus; but, they did not know who he was. They talked with him and eventually invited him to come and eat with them. 

In today's world, strangers don't talk to one another much. At least, not unless they have to! How often do we avert our eyes when meeting someone on the sidewalk or in a store rather than greet them?

Every now and then I will strike up a conversation with a stranger in a check out line or some other such place. But, no where near as often as conversations occurred even ten years ago. It use to drive my grandchildren crazy when I would stop and talk to strangers that we met. They thought is was a waste of time; that there was no purpose in talking to strangers. Today, the art of communing with strangers (and even acquaintances) seems to have become a lost art. 

Growing up, my parents talked to everyone they met! If the conversations went especially well my mother would invite them over for a meal. They met a lot of wonderful people that way. 

These two men, on their way to Emmaus, met a stranger on the road. They struck up a conversation and then invited him to eat with him. The stranger turned out to be the risen Lord. One can never tell who we will meet on our journeys. Be kind! Treat them as you would treat the Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

I Cannot Come

When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

“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.’

 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’

 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

 “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.’

 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.'"                                                                                                                   (Luke 14:15-23 NIV)

We all have excuses. Everyone, it seems, wants to be present at the great banquet table in the Kingdom of God after they enter through the gateway of death. But, not so many realize that the banquet table of the Kingdom is prepared just about every Sunday (sometimes more; sometimes less). This feast of Jesus Christ is for you. He invites you. The one who died for you and has prepared a place for you welcomes you. Yet, what is the response? Is it "I cannot come?" What better things do you have to do this Sunday?

The Kingdom of God is at hand. The table has been prepared for you. You have been invited. "Come, for everything is now ready."

God's Peace - Pr. J.