Welcome to the Feast

by Tom Gilbert
Published November 25, 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 (Matthew 22:1-14; Luke 14:15-23). 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.

Viewed 413 times