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Welcome to the Feast |
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Article by Tom Gilbert –
November 2004
Holiday meal times can be a wonderful time
to gather with friends and family. Abundant food and memorable
fellowship are highlights of many Thanksgiving meals. At the
same time, there can also be strained interaction. Sometimes
it is hardest to get along with those closest to us.
This year when your brother, sister, mom, dad, aunt, uncle,
grandparents or cousins rub you the wrong way take a moment
to pause and reflect on the many who won't enjoy a hot meal
or a seat at the family table.
During the holiday season, and particularly around Thanksgiving,
many social organizations, charities and religious groups host
meals for the less fortunate. You’ll see it written up
in the newspaper and publicized on radio and TV. Maybe you'll
feel some compassion and even get involved in contributing to
the cause or helping serve the meals. This is all well and good.
Of course, after the holidays the homeless and hungry are still
around and the challenge to find the daily meal and a place
to sleep is still with them.
One of the more intriguing themes in the gospels is the great
banquet feast (; ). It’s a feast of plenty, a gathering
of joy and celebration. The odd twist is that those invited
either don't show or are in someway ungrateful. Each time the
host is angered and disappointed and decides to find others
to invite, regardless of worthiness or acquaintance. The servants
are directed to go out into the towns, the villages, the fields
and the roads and invite everyone!
How many of us are truly comfortable with the inclusiveness
of God? Our Father in heaven is inviting everyone — everyone!
Here comes everybody and, let's face it, we’re just not
that excited about this. I mean, there will be all those people
we don't like and prefer not to associate with.
Ah, but whatever we do to the least of others we do to Jesus.
And Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God. The only
way I can even begin to accept this wholehearted welcoming of
everyone is to look at my own attitudes, get humble and realize
that all of us bring something to the table. I can bring my
baggage or I can bring love and forgiveness.
Jesus had so many incredible stories, examples and parables
to make this point. We can always learn more from them. Not
only is the Father interested in all of His children having
a place at the table (and all of us are God's kids), he wants
to wait on us. Those of us who really get this message will
also be willing to serve and do it with a smile on our face!
I'm looking forward to the Thanksgiving meal. It'’s a
time to be grateful and to share that attitude with others.
It's also a reminder that the Great Banquet table is set for
all. If I show up but I'm not appreciating the point of God’s
love being for all then I'’m going to be asked to leave.
I feel truly blessed that this message has been given to us.
Ultimately, if we are not grateful for what we already have
we won’t be grateful for what we want.
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Scripture taken from the Holy
Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973,
1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved
throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible
Society.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks
of International Bible Society. Use of either trademark for
the offering of goods or services requires the prior written
consent of International Bible Society.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible,
New Living Translation, copyright ©1996. Used by permission
of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189, USA. All
rights reserved.
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