Thursday, April 15, 2010

Reflections on a banquet meal

..."A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.' And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.' And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.' And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.'   And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.  For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'" (Luke 16-12)

Jesus once described the kingdom of God as a feast that we are invited to. At Mosaic last night we were asked to reflect on this, and write dear God responses to God on the feast. Here are my responses:

  • Dear God, I find it hard to give up my own agenda, I mean, isn't this party all about me. But it isn't its about celebrating you.
  • Dear God, you put so much effort into this moment, and I take it all for granted. I should be grateful that I was even invited. 
  • Dear God, the food is so good, I have never had food so tasty, the ambiance is amazing. I should have invited my friends.
  • Dear God, why are there so many hookers and junkies at this party, I can deal with there being respectable people. But the person over there, he was throwing up on the street last night. You deserve more than these folk. It would be easier if the person sitting next to me didn't should out obscene words every couple of minutes. I then look at myself, I am just the same, maybe I don't want to look at my own reflection. That I don't deserve this as much as everyone else in this room.

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