Fifth Week of Lent – Friday
From Presbyterian Outlook Devotions, Jill Duffield, Editor
Luke 14:15-24
15 One of the dinner guests, on hearing this, said to him, “Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16 Then Jesus said to him, “Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. 17 At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, “Come; for everything is ready now.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, “I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my regrets.’ 19 Another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my regrets.’ 20 Another said, “I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So the slave returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, “Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ 22 And the slave said, “Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.’ 23 Then the master said to the slave, “Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.’ “
Jesus feeds whoever is willing to come to his banquet. His guest list includes those who respond to his expansive invitation. Do we respond to Jesus’ invitation to come and be fed, or do we make excuses and neglect his call? Consider the excuses you make that prevent you from being with Jesus.
We are so full, Lord. Our calendars are full. Our days are full. Our heads are full. Our homes are full. We are stuffed to overflowing with that which does not really satisfy. Hence, we keep trying to find more and more and more. We make excuses to avoid answering your invitation to empty ourselves in order to be filled by you. Today, we simply say “yes” and sit at table with you. Amen.
