Have you ever thought that you might miss out on God’s future?
The kingdom of heaven, the new creation, the great feast as it is in
today’s parable. To our ears, Jesus’ words in Luke 14:24 might be
shocking: “For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste
my dinner.”
Last week we heard Jesus’ call to use our status and privilege to
raise others up. This week we hear the challenging news that
those with status and privilege won’t be at the feast that God’s
holding. This isn’t because they haven’t been invited – but
because when the time comes, they’ve got better things to do.
This parable is a confronting reminder to us of the things which
get in the way of hearing God’s call. But it’s also a reminder of
God’s immense grace: those who find themselves at God’s feast
are the ones who know they can’t repay God’s generosity and
need to be urged to come in. It is only as we realise that we will
never be deserving enough of a seat at God’s table that we’re able
to accept God’s invitation with no strings attached.
