Saturday, June 08, 2024

Refusing Dinner



Sermon for the second Sunday after Trinity 

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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