This sounds like a terrible dream – you know the dream … you arrive in the wrong outfit or no outfit at all and hope no one will notice as you attempt to find the right clothing and/or use your arms to cover what clothing usually does.

Is that the point of this parable?  

If we have learned anything these past several months of parables, the correct answer is probably not! 

The God of all life who invites everyone to the banquet, now seems to act with what seems to be a great deal of malice toward an improperly clothed attendee. Yikes, maybe the attendee just plain missed that part of the invitation – all are welcome … but only the properly attired may come in … 

 

Well, that image of God just doesn’t jive with that characteristics of God list I’m been compiling.  So, what are we overlooking? Where is the pearl of the great price hidden in this parable? The pearl I want so badly I'm willing to sell all I have to find.

This invitation is for all to come. For all to be part of the feast, the banquet God provides. The guest list is expanded, really expanded, and now includes those out on the streets! That part indeed sounds like God—inclusive and welcoming all. 

In good Jesus fashion I’ll ask a question. Is God the center of our life? How seriously do we take our relationship to God, with God? This is a critically important question.  

Sometimes, may be our best answer. Sure. I get that. Really, I do. I understand that none of us live in a monastery, or in a cave, or alone in the desert. This means that each day we try to balance life. In this year, especially in this year, there are challenges, there are exceptions, there are conflicts. [Good news flash: God is forever issuing invitations].  

What do we know about the One who does the inviting …? The communicative property of love must be applied here. As we have been invited, we invite, we offer, we extend. God may indeed do the judging in the by and by -- but not me and not you -- nope, never. Yes, we make decisions based on the greater good for our families, for our communities, but that’s not judgement. We need not use condemning or condescending language. No eternal damnation, nope, none of that. That is God’s realm and God’s only. 

 

I’m pretty relieved about that. How about you? So then, maybe our time is better spent on making sure that everyone coming to the banquet is adequately dressed [metaphorically and literally], and ready to come. Hmmm, there is definitely work to do there. Maybe we might spend time encouraging all to come, maybe witnessing about the love and generosity of the creator. Maybe.

 

Or am I just too busy? Sometimes, for sure. Too busy to see the banquet[s] laid out in front of me, too busy to see how I am limiting the invitations God extends.  AND If indeed I don’t have time to attend to what God calls me toward, then at least can I agree to get out of the way for those who might want to sit at the banquet table.  Let me be about removing obstacles and stumbling blocks, so as not to hinder those who are trying to get there.   

The takeaway for this parable for today … God invites, and we welcome, everyone and always! Sounds so simple …