The Invitation List II

Preparing for a special event, the invitation list is something that is considered carefully. Who to invite? Who do you want to see at your celebration? Who do you want to share this time with? Who do you want to share your memories with of this event?
Yesterday, we had the story of the wedding banquet. Rather than rehash that, I would say let’s just focus more on the highlights of the story.
We have a king whose son is getting married. He excitedly prepares everything. When it comes time to celebrate those who had been invited snub the chance to come, the king is upset. When those who were invited kill the servant – the king is furious.
Stop!!! Wait – in this story, the servants were killed because of the guests not wanting to come. Talk about moody guests! But let’s put this in a different context. Who would a king invite to his son’s wedding? There would of course be family and friends. But, these would be those with power, who are perhaps perceived as leaders, as successful.
Now remember, this is a story that is being told and the story teller must always remember their audience. Who in this case were the party snubbers? The Pharisees who had been invited, through opportunities to learn God’s word, to make the life of being in the temple their life, and yet were standing on the cusp of the wedding banquet refusing to come and even having murder in their hearts. They had received the engraved invitation, the filigree and the beautiful language. They had sent their RSVP cards and e-mails, but when it actually came time to go, were not willing to sacrifice their schedules, their wishes, their wants.

The king tried again, God tried again. He sent servants in the form of prophets, warriors, those who loved the heart of God. He sent his son in the form of a servant.
The servants went out again, they collected everyone they could find. Come – the banquet is ready. The hall was filled.
But, in the midst of the celebration about to begin, as laughter and amazement swirled around, the king entered. He noticed that one did not belong. It wasn’t a statement of have or have not, the man being too poor to have wedding clothes. It was either being prepared or not. The man did not come prepared. He received an invitation, he was called.

But, he didn’t come prepared.

On the day of the wedding, on the day when Christ returns again. We must be prepared. As we do not know the hour, the day, the moment, we must stay prepared. Let’s be on the invitation list. “For many are invited, but few are chosen,” (Matthew 22:14).