The Great Banquet
Scripture: St. Luke 14:1-24 - A parable that Jesus told about a man who gave a great dinner or banquet. He invited many and at the time for the dinner he sent his servants to tell the invited guests, “Come for everything is ready.” But, (can you believe it?) they all began to make excuses and “beg off” from the banquet. When folks wouldn’t come, he sent out his servants to compel people to come, saying “Let my house be full.”
When is the last time you attended a banquet? I think we have a “banquet” every Sunday when we go out to dinner with family or friends after church and I can assure you it is a banquet every time we sit down at my daughter-in-law, Katrina’s table. Well, maybe one of NOC dinners is more like a banquet at the many that are served to groups there. And I know of a church that has what it calls a “Great Banquet” as Christians worship and fellowship together, (ask Joe Brining). It was something like a banquet at my home every Sunday when I was growing up. You have heard of the table “groaning” with the abundance of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetables and pies and pies and pies! My mother must have been the best cook in the world. We do like to eat, don’t we? And aren’t we blessed?
I’m glad that we can help others with our local food bank and nutrition center and gifts to Red Cross and other agencies like “Food for the Hungry.” There are lots of hungry people in the world and perhaps in our own community. And there are so many that are hungry and they don’t know what they are hungry for. But they are hungry for God and the Love of the Savior Jesus Christ and don’t even realize it or know him. The Bible tells us of many times when Jesus had dinner with friends - once He even invited himself to dinner. Remember Zacchaeus, “Come down from that tree; I’m going to your house today.” (Luke 19:5). Having Jesus in his home for dinner changed Zaccaeus’ life. From a rich tax collector (perhaps not, too honest) to a happy giver, “Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone, I restore it four fold.” What a wonderful ...
