15 When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”
16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’
19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’
20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’
22 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’
23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’” – Luke 14
This is a very familiar passage to me. I remember attending a college conference and learning about this passage. The thought of everyone being invited to God’s banquet was very exciting to learn about. Everyone is welcomed at God’s table.
I didn’t own a table then. As a college kid, I ate my Ramen noodles on the couch. I had no idea what it meant to host someone. Nevertheless, what it meant to host all types of people. So when I see in this passage a master inviting “the poor, the crippled, and the blind and the lame,” I know that God’s love is much deeper and wider than anything we could possibly imagine.
The stress of preparing a table for friends is difficult enough:making sure their is enough beverage, food, and space. Now imagine the stress of preparing a table for a blind person. My house is not prepared for the lame and blind. But God’s house is. This morning’s devotional may not have a greater point than this; God’s table is not only big enough for you, it is prepared for you.
For me, the bulky preacher who likes to eat at a high table, there is space. For the mother who is tired and worn out from working a full-time job and now teaching their children school work, there is space for you. For the elderly who live alone and just doesn’t have the desire to be distanced anymore, there is space for you. God’s table is prepared and ready for you. Best part? God ain’t stressing (as they would say in Texas).
Pastor Mat