November 5, 2024

Jesus has a stern look today, election day.  He is saying “look sharp,” look out for obstacles. He is also saying to acknowledge and be aware of the high stress we are under – both hopeful and fearful.  Yes, that is right. 

Luke 14:15-24

In this passage, the Kingdom of God is like a feast that God is inviting us to, but the first people invited say they are too busy seeing to their worldly affairs – a real estate deal, a purchase of oxen for farming, a marriage – so they refuse the invitation.  God extends the invitation for a most wonderful feast, but some people are too busy and too focused on their day-to-day concerns.  This deeply saddens the Lord and hurts his heart.

Then, in this analogy, the Lord sends out his servant to invite all the poor, disabled, blind, and lame of the town, that is, those on the margins of society, those who are marginalized, to this feast.  When they have all accepted the invitation, there is still room for more people, so the Lord sends the servant out to the roadways to invite in any random people coming along.  But none the first people who were invited “will taste my dinner.”

This explains again how some of the poor or marginalized members of society, who do not consider themselves “important” or “too busy,” can be more open to God’s invitation.  While God extends his invitation to peace, it can be more tempting to carry on about our business, which is entertaining or furthers our ambitions and accumulation of wealth or power.  In politics, people may be attracted to a candidate who seemingly gives permission to be vulgar, which is a frivolous distraction from daily life.

God’s invitation is there, but try not to turn it down, thinking “I’ll come back later.”  Many parables warn against this. The time is now.