April 1 - Parable of the Great Banquet
During lent, our focus has been on stories and practices that help us connect to eternal love and undermine the power and influence of evil. Rarely does straight-on confrontation change lives, but there are many stories in scripture about people taking a round about way to change unjust systems.
The constant onslaught of media puts many people into states of rage or fear where we use the tiny parts of our brain and cut off creativity. Subversive spirituality encourages us to look at new ways of approaching the world where we are not in a state of "fight, flight, or freeze."
Now we invite you to discern scripture. Read the Parable of the Great Banquet from Luke 14. Think about how the story speaks to you about being less reactive and more creative, less isolated and more connected?
The Parable of the Great Banquet
15 When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”
16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’
19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’
20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’
22 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’
23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”
Why does the master send the servant out two more times to fill the banquet?
Link to Bible verses: Luke 14
Banquet photo from https://bible.art