By Pastor Jose V. Velasco, Jr.
I suggest that you read Luke 14:15-24 as a background for our Bible Reflection. Matthew's version of this parable uses banquet as a metaphor for the kingdom of heaven (Mt. 22:2). The term banquet suggests much. It suggests that the kingdom is a gathering of God's people. On earth it is the visible gathering of God's family, like the church. This negates the claim that it is not necessary to belong to an organized religion as long as you believe in Christ. The banquet idea provides the context in which God's people interact with one another in love, peace, harmony, joy, service and fellowship. In the kingdom God's people also relate and interact with Him.
The banquet celebration is underway in the here and now. It is not just something we wait and experience in glory after we die. We enter the banquet the moment we truly believe in Christ. We experience it in our worship and prayers, in our Christian fellowship, in our feasting on God's words as it is taught and preached, as we live daily in the spirit and life of Christ. And by our unfading commitment and loyalty to Christ until the end, we shall continue to celebrate this banquet in eternity (Rev. 2:10).
People are invited to come to the banquet (17-20). But in sinthey turn down the invitation of God's call to faith, love and obedience to Him. And they do not know that by doing so they are missing the greatest invitation ever extended to them in life.They also miss all the blessings it brings.
God mandates His servants to go out and invite people to come to the banquet (21, 23). We are all His servants whom He sends out. This ministry of invitation is not an option but a command. We must reach out to people "so that my house may be full" (23). We can interpret this literally. God wants His worship house to be full of true worshipers. Thus, we must surely devise ways to bring in more people into His kingdom. What are our programs and activities to carry out this command?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for including us in your kingdombanquet celebration. We are aware that a lot of people aroundare still out from that celebration. Grant us the passion, the wisdom and the power to bring in more people to your kingdomcelebration. In the Name of your Son Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
Pastor Jose V. Velasco
