Why do they refuse?
Guests bidden to a fine dinner
make excuses
and refuse the invitation.
A sumptuous meal
gets passed over
for inspecting
a piece of land
a yoke of oxen,
a new wife.
Could these ever
be convincing excuses?
[PAUSE]
There are often good reasons
why we refuse an invitation
to dinner:
Ill-health,
unforseen circumstances,
urgent business.
These might be genuine
or they may be covering
the fact
that we simply
don't want to go to dinner.
Either way
in refusing the invitation
we are declaring
that there is something
more important to us
than this meal.
Making excuses
that aren't genuine
shows a desire
to conceal the truth
from the giver of the feast.
This rather shows
a desire to keep up
an appearance
rather than be honest
and state the real reason
to the one giving the feast.
Of course,
if the feast is Our Lord's
wedding banquet
then this is like Cain
denying the truth
before Almighty God.
This feast is unworthy
of the person
who makes false excuses.
[PAUSE]
"I have bought a piece of land.
I must inspect it.
I cannot come to the feast."
This excuse
shows that the land
is considered to be
more valuable than the feast.
Those who prefer
to control the land,
who lay claim to estates,
who seek kingdoms
and dominions
who enter into disputes
over territory to control
are not worthy of the feast.
They do not wish
to share the same space
with others
if it is not on their terms.
[PAUSE]
"I have bought some oxen.
I must inspect them.
I cannot come to the feast."
This excuse shows
that acquiring property
and wealth
is more important than the feast.
Those who prefer to hoard
their possessions
who see everything
in terms of asset and gain,
who reduce everything
to utility and fashion
are not worthy of the feast
They do not wish
to extend their bounty
with others
or to see others as
anything other
as means to their ends.
[PAUSE]
"I have married a wife.
I must spend time with her.
I cannot come to the feast."
This excuse shows
that personal pleasure
is more important than the feast.
Those who prefer
to enjoy themselves
on their terms,
who even base their identity
in terms of what they enjoy,
who lose their temper
when their pleasure is denied them
are unworthy of the feast.
They do not wish
to share their joy with others
nor share in the joy of others.
And what does the Lord of the Feast do?
[PAUSE]
He gives them what they want.
He allows their excuse.
They don't have to come
if they don't want to.
But their place will be taken
by those who are grateful
to be called worthy of the feast
because they will enjoy it
for what it is:
free, generous, nourishing
good
and not regarding
where they have come from.
Those who refuse the feast
will never partake of it
in respect of their own choices.
They made themselves unworthy
but God makes all who choose Him
worthy of His bounty
which He shares
liberally and joyfully with us
and bids us
share His bounty
liberally and joyfully with others.
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