You are invited to a Banquet

Homecoming Series — №1

No matter who you are. You’re welcome.

Jesus tells a story about a King who prepared a lavish banquet, only to experience the heartbreak of rejection. All the expected guests said no to his majesty’s request. He said, come and join the festivity. They said no. All the letters of invitation to join the feast were turned down and returned, coupled with excuses for why they were not available.

What preposterous replies to such a gracious invitation. And then came the King’s radical response. He said to persuade and compel those who did not expect this kind of courtesy or favor. Those who were never invited to this kind of celebration on the basis of race, rank, and status.

In the new letters of invitation, he specified to invite the crippled, lame, and blind. These people were never going to be the life of the party. They are the same people that are not invited to your dinner parties, children's parties, and all the joyous and essential occasions in your life, you will never ask them.

I believe the story challenges the spirit of exclusivity characterized by the limits of how favor is reciprocated. Extravagant parties require a certain zip code, dress code, code of conduct, and other social markers before you can get an invite. It also goes without saying that you have to reciprocate either by giving equally extravagant gifts or dispensing favors when favors are called in like debts.

The King’s herald was resplendent in his high-end clothing adorned with royal insignia, making it hard to ignore him when he went beyond the limits of the palatial estate. He rode his horse. To summon the second-class citizens of the realm, he galloped towards the countryside and then to the slums.

His sandals were embroidered with the royal seal and the strap ends were made of brass. He turned heads. And it is easy to understand why many from the mud houses and small dwellings hesitated to join the herald as he headed back to the palace.

It is not our job to figure out the science of grace and mercy. We just have to accept it.

The King said to his messengers: “Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my…

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