As we wrap up our second week of advent focusing on peace, we read Luke 14 which shows a practical way to keep our eyes on heaven and not be anxious. In this chapter we see a few parables each about a banquet.
We get to see examples of how we should be invited, be a guest, and host a banquet.
Being Invited to the Banquet
In this parable of the great banquet, a man invites many people to this feast and he gets back a bunch of responses as to why people can’t attend. One is recently married, and others have made purchases that they need to follow up on. When the RSVPs come back negative, he replies with anger.
“Then the householder in anger said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”
If the people invited are not making it a priority to attend, they are replaced by those who will be grateful and elevated to the occasion. The Master in the story feels neglected as if the others either don’t care about him and his invitation or as if they are acting “better than”.
In this life, if we have been invited, we better respond and make Him a priority. If not, our place will be given away. “Those who have much, much is expected”.
The other reality, is to know that you are not better than anyone else. If instead of the initial invitees, we are the lowly and the poor in the story, then we will be invited into the feast. So either way, to join the banquet, we must be alert for the invite or low enough.
Being a Good Guest
That covers the invite. What about once we get into the banquet?
Here Jesus tells us to “take the lowest place” (Lk 14:10). Don’t assume that you are greater than you are. When the time comes, you will get humbled. Instead, form a habit of assigning yourself the last and lowliest positions in places. Then you can only get promoted.
“For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” – Luke 14:11
This is a great practical way to practice humility and service to others. If a food line forms, can I try to make sure others are all served before me? Can I intentionally offer the bite of dessert that I want to someone else? These are little ways that we can humble ourselves throughout the day and chose the lower place.
Hosting and Serving Others
Lastly, when we ourselves are in a place to choose the position of others at our banquet, Jesus tells us this.
“When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your kinsmen or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”
Luke 14:12-14
As we covered in our reflection on Luke 12, it is good to have a Heavenly mindset. By giving more of ourselves now, the treasures and repayment will be eternity with the God we love and who loves us.
The Cost to Enter the Banquet
This is the cost to enter The Banquet, that we “take up our cross.” and offer ourselves to God and to the world.
As we approach the halfway point of Advent, we continue to focus on Preparing the Way. One way to do that is to check where in our lives we are willing to put God above all else and where we aren’t.
Before building the tower or fighting the battle, count the cost (Lk 14:28). If you can’t complete your build you ask for assistance. If you cannot win, you ask for peace. In the preparations for Christs return, we see the cost of “all that he has” and that we come up short. Therefore, we beg God for peace and assistance in being able to lay down our lives for Him.
To follow along with these readings, you can find recent posts at Formed by a Flame.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In