Weekly Reflections

It was a disguised story about God’s dealings with his own people, Israel. He had promised them a great feast of blessing, the removal of death and the forgiveness of sins. He had promised that a new David would come to bring God’s kingly rule to bless his people.

But when the time came, the people who had been promised so much didn’t want to have anything to do with it – especially the leaders of the Pharisee group. It would be a wonder if Jesus wasn’t angry.

So the invitation went out to the outsiders, the sinners, the bad people (see Luke 15.1). And what would be more galling it would later go out to the countryside, to the pagans, to the Gentiles.

Why so much effort? Because God, who is giving the feast, wants every seat to be filled. He wants a full house. Heaven will be packed, in other words.

Now this is very good news for us outsiders, sinners, and general hoi polloi. Jesus’ story makes it clear that all types can be included in his great heavenly banquet. Not just ‘can be’, but that he wants us there.

But the chilling words that conclude the story must have stopped the conversation at the meal. Because it is Jesus himself speaking at the end, not the man in the story. ‘I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.’

Is it possible to be so privileged to hear and be told for so long about the blessings of God, only to miss out through willful preoccupation or stubbornness? Yes, sadly it is.

Dale