Week
of 2 Pentecost - B
This is a Three-Year Lectionary based on the Lutheran Book of
Worship 3-year Lectionary (for public worship), "Prayers of the
Day..." (Propers), p. 13-41, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis,
1978. It is based, with only minor variations, on the Revised Common
Lectionary, used by many denominations, including the Episcopal,
Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Methodist churches:
http://www.commontexts.org/
and:
http://www.commontexts.org/rcl/usage.html
The daily readings are the Propers (Lections) for the following
Sunday, so that the daily devotions can prepare us for worship.
Additional Lections are from Common Service Book of the Lutheran
Church, "Scripture lessons for Matins and Vespers," United Lutheran
Church of America, General Rubrics VIII. Scripture lessons for
Matins and Vespers, p. 299 - 304, Philadelphia, 1918.
The previous 2- year Bible Study based on the Lutheran Book of
Worship, Daily Lectionary for personal devotions p.179-192, Augsburg
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Podcast Download: Week of 2 Pentecost B
Sunday
2 Pentecost B
First Posted June
14, 2009;
Podcast: Sunday 2 Pentecost B
Psalm 81:1-10 -- Call to Worship;
Deuteronomy 5:12-15 -- Keeping the
Sabbath;
2 Corinthians 4:5-12 -- The Light of
the Gospel;
Mark 2:23-28 -- Lord of the Sabbath;
Psalm Paraphrase:
This is a Psalm of praise and commemoration, on the observance of the Feast (of Tabernacles), of what God has done for his people. The Psalm commemorates God’s saving act, delivering God’s people from Pharaoh and bondage to sin and death in Egypt. God had descended upon Mt. Sinai, where he gave Moses his Commandments, established the religious festivals (Exodus 23:16) and had made the Covenant with his people. God had tested his people in the wilderness at Meribah (meaning “contention”). The people were thirsty and demanded that God provide them with water, and God had brought forth water from the rock.
Deuteronomy Paraphrase::
We are to keep the sabbath to make it sacred (set apart for the Lord's use). We are to work and do all our labor in six days; the seventh day is to be a sabbath of the Lord God. We are not to do any work in it, nor our household, including guests and animals.We are to remember that we were slaves in Egypt, and the Lord brought us out with great power. So the Lord has commanded us to keep the sabbath.
2
Corinthians Background:
This Corinthian congregation had been disturbed by
“false apostles” who were dividing the congregation.
Some were challenging Paul's (Saul of Tarsus') apostolic
authority (1 Corinthians 1:10-17). Some leaders were
building themselves up (by tearing Paul down); they were
using the ministry of the Gospel to create their own
personal empire.
2
Corinthians Summary
Paul
taught and demonstrated that the goal of the ministry of
the Gospel is to exalt Jesus as Lord, with ourselves as
his servants. The ministry of the Gospel is to make
disciples of Jesus Christ; not disciples of ourselves or
of some well-known preacher.
God created light to shine in the darkness as the
first act of Creation (Genesis 1:3). God’s plan for this
Creation was to make it possible for Jesus, the Light of
the world (John 8:12; 9:5), the light of eternal life
(John 1:4-5), to send the spiritual light of his Holy
Spirit into our sin-darkened hearts, through whom we
receive spiritual enlightenment (John 14:26; 16:12-13),
so that we can realize and know the glory of God in
Jesus’ face. Jesus is God in human flesh (Matthew 1:23;
Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). It is by the grace
(unmerited favor) of God and the work of the Holy Spirit
that we can recognize God in the face of Christ.
Mark Summary:
Jesus
and his disciples were walking through a grainfield on
the Sabbath, and Jesus’ disciples were snacking on ripe
ears of grain. The Pharisees were the strict, legalistic
leading sect of Judaism. They were in opposition to
Jesus and looking for ways to attack him, so they
criticized his disciples. They were using “religion” to
achieve their worldly goals, instead of seeking to know
and do God’s will. They suggested that Jesus’ disciples
were breaking the Sabbath law by “harvesting” grain.
The Pharisees considered themselves experts in the
Scriptures. Jesus pointed out to them that David had
violated the Law of Moses by eating the bread of the
presence in the Temple, which only priests were allowed
to eat, and feeding his men with it when he was being
pursued by King Saul.
Commentary:
Psalm 81 is a call to worship. We are invited to praise the Lord with singing and shouts of joy in his presence. Our feast day is Sunday, a Sabbath to the Lord, and the Day of Jesus’ Resurrection. The Sabbath rest and worship is the third of the Ten Commandments.
Christians are the New Israel, the
New People of God. Church is the New Jerusalem, the City
of God on earth. God’s deliverance of Israel from
slavery and death in Egypt, his leading through the
wilderness and Israel’s entry into the Promised Land is
also a parable and metaphor for life in this world.
Jesus is our “Moses,” through whom we have the spiritual
deliverance, guidance and inheritance of eternal life in
the heavenly City of God, and Jesus’ Resurrection is the
demonstration of that spiritual reality.
Are we willing to be admonished by
God’s Word? Are we willing to be obedient to God’s Word?
Are we careful not to allow any “idol” to compete with
or replace our love and obedient trust in the Lord? If
we truly realize what God has done for us in Jesus
Christ, we will be glad to praise and thank our Lord in
Church on the “Lord’s Day.”
Keeping the Sabbath is more than just
spending an hour in Church on Sunday morning. God, our
Creator, designed a Sabbath rest into Creation.
Obedience to his commandment is for our own benefit.
When we trust and obey God’s command, we keep worldly
things in proper perspective. Otherwise worldly things
will become our “idols.”
Keeping the Sabbath rest is more than
just resting ourselves. In obeying that command, we will
live in ways that will allow others to rest on the
Sabbath as well. Do we have to go shopping on Sunday? Do
we have to pursue material possessions seven days a
week?
If we have experienced the light of
the Gospel within our hearts, if we have recognized
God’s glory in the face of Jesus, we are to live in a
way that glorifies the Lord and reflects the light of
the Gospel to others. We are to be servants of God for
the spiritual wellbeing of others so that God’s power
can flow through us to them. We must be willing to “die”
to our own desires, so that others can experience
rebirth and new life in Jesus, following the example of
Jesus and carrying on his mission of forgiveness and
salvation from eternal condemnation and eternal death.
Jesus is Lord of everything,
including the Sabbath, whether or not we acknowledge him
as our Lord. We are to keep the Sabbath for the benefit
of ourselves and others. Keeping the Sabbath doesn’t
save us or make us “Christians.” We’re not to use
God’s Word to oppress others. We’re to respond to the
love God showed for us, in Jesus Christ, by loving
concern for one another. Real worship and offering of
thanksgiving to God is in obedient trust in his Word,
and responding in love to one another.
Monday 2 Pentecost B
First Posted June 15, 2009;
Podcast: Monday 2 Pentecost B
Psalm 61:1-5, 8 -- Prayer for
protection
Summary:
The Psalmist prays in faith that the
Lord will listen to his prayer, even though he may feel
that he is at the farthest end of the earth, and when
faint with fear. He places his trust in the Lord to be
his fortress and refuge from his enemies, Satan, evil
and death. He asks in faith that the Lord will lead him
to the rock that is higher than the Psalmist
The Psalmist asks to dwell in the
presence of God forever; to be safe in the shelter of
God’s presence. The Psalmist has vowed to offer a
sacrifice of thanksgiving daily, because God has heard
him and given him the inheritance of those who fear God
(have awe and respect for God’s power and authority;
God’s name is the sum of God’s character and person).
The Psalmist has vowed to sing praises to God’s name
daily forever, beginning now, one day at a time.
God is visualized as a mighty eagle
in the shadow of whose wings we find safety and
protection (see also Psalm 91:1-4). The Psalmist longs
to dwell in God’s presence and share in the eternal
heritage, eternal life in God’s presence in Heaven,
which God gives to his people who trust and obey him.
God’s Word will lead us to Jesus, if we will hear, trust
and obey.
Commentary:
Jesus is the Rock which is higher
than we are. Jesus is the place of refuge from the enemy
of our souls; he provides a solid foundation on which to
stand, which puts us above and out of the reach of our
enemy. Jesus is the name of God (Colossians 2:8-9, John
20:28; Matthew 1:23). Jesus is God’s authority,
character, and person in human flesh. Jesus is God’s
Word, fulfilled, embodied and demonstrated in human
flesh (John 1:1-5, 14).
Jesus is the only one who can restore
us to God’s presence (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God’s
Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home), now,
through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which
only Jesus gives, (John 1:31-34) only to his disciples
who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17) and eternally
(1 John 5:11-13), by spiritual rebirth (John 3:3, 5-8).
The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in
Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22;
Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
How about us? Do we long for God’s
presence? Do we entrust our security to him? Do we sing
praise daily to God’s name, for all the material and
spiritual blessings he has given us?
Tuesday 2 Pentecost B
First Posted June 16, 2009;
Podcast: Tuesday 2 Pentecost B
Genesis 3:9-15 -- The fall of Man
Summary:
Adam and Eve tried to hide from God
because they had violated his commandment and knew they
had done evil (Genesis 3:4). Their close personal
fellowship with God was broken. But God sought them out
and held them accountable for their actions, although
they tried to shift the blame. Adam, Eve, and the
serpent each lost God’s favor and unlimited blessing.
Commentary:
We have all sinned (disobeyed God’s
Word) and fall short of God’s righteousness (Romans
3:23, 1 John 1:8-10). Our sin separates us from
fellowship with God now and eternally. We will all be
accountable to God for what we have done in this
lifetime, and it will be impossible to hide from his
judgment or shift the blame from ourselves (John
5:28-29; Matthew 25:31-46). The penalty for sin is
eternal death, separated eternally from God’s presence
(Romans 6:23).
Jesus Christ is God’s only provision
for the forgiveness of our sins and restoration to
eternal life in fellowship with God in eternal paradise
in Heaven (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). Jesus has been God’s
plan from the beginning of this Creation, built into the
very structure of Creation (John 1:1-5, 14; see God’s
Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).
God has always intended to create an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey God. God designed the possibility of sin into Creation so that mankind would have free choice whether to obey God or not, and made it possible for us to learn by trial and error to trust and obey him. This lifetime is our opportunity to seek and find God and learn to trust and obey him (Acts 17:26-27).
God has revealed himself to us
through his Word (the Bible),and through Jesus Christ, his
only begotten Son, God’s Word fulfilled, embodied and
demonstrated in human flesh (John 1:14). Jesus came to
die on the Cross as the only sacrifice acceptable to God
for the forgiveness of our sins. By faith (obedient
trust) in Jesus Christ we are spiritually reborn by the
gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus
gives (John 1:31-34) only to his disciples who trust and
obey Jesus (John 14:15-17).
The Holy Spirit is God’s fullest
revelation of himself to us personally and individually;
the restoration of personal fellowship with God lost by
the fall of mankind through sin, now in this lifetime,
and the seal and guarantee that we are in Christ and
have eternal life in God’s presence in paradise restored
in Heaven (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans
8:9b, 11, 15-16).
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23;
Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you
trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you
received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first
truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of
Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus
commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty
where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians
1:13-14)?
First Posted June 17, 2009;
Podcast: Wednesday 2 Pentecost B
2 Corinthians 4:13-18 -- Faith and
Perseverance
Summary:
Paul cited another Psalmist as an
example of courage and faith in the face of trouble (2
Corinthians 4:13; compare Psalm 116:10). Paul, like the
Psalmist, declared his faith in the Lord’s power and
faithfulness to deliver him from adversity, even from
physical death.
Commentary:
Paul was the prototype and example of
a “modern,” post-resurrection," “born-again” (John 3:3,
5-8) disciple (student) and apostle (messenger; of the
Gospel) of Jesus Christ, having come to know Jesus only
after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension into heaven.
Paul (formerly known as Saul of Tarsus) was willing to
accept rebuke and chastisement from the Lord and
acknowledge that he had been wrong in persecuting
Christians through lack of knowledge and through
spiritual blindness (Acts 9:1-19, 21-22).
Paul’s conversion, while on the road
to Damascus to persecute Christians, was sudden and
radical, but Paul already knew and had been formally
trained in the Old Testament scriptures. (Also remember
that the original Twelve disciples were with Jesus
twenty-four hours a day for about three years, being
“discipled,” but were not ready for Gospel ministry
until after they had witnessed Jesus’ resurrection, and
had been filled with the indwelling Holy Spirit; Acts
2:1-13).
Once he was confronted by the Spirit of Christ, Paul could see that Jesus was the Christ (Messiah), and as soon as he had been baptized into the Christian Church and had received the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17-19a) he began proclaiming the Gospel in the synagogues (Acts 19b-20). We can’t expect such a rapid conversion, but it is important to be “discipled” by a “born-again” disciple of Jesus Christ, until we have received the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, before going out into the world to proclaim the Gospel (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8).
Paul believed (trusted and obeyed)
Jesus’ words (Acts 9:4-9), and was “discipled” by a
“born-again” disciple, Ananias, (Acts 9:10-19) until
Paul had received the Holy Spirit. Guided and empowered
by the Holy Spirit. Paul believed, and he spoke, even
though persecution for the Gospel began immediately
(Acts 9:23-25).
Paul suffered a lot of persecution
for the Gospel, as Jesus had prophesied to Ananias (Acts
9:16). Because Paul had personally experienced and come
to know the risen Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:3-10), he knew
that life beyond physical death was true, and he
believed that God would raise the disciples who followed
Jesus in faith (obedient trust) to eternal life with
Jesus in the Kingdom of God in Heaven, as he had raised
Jesus.
Paul was willing to endure
persecution for the Gospel for the sake of the “lost,”
the “spiritually blind,” as he had once been. Paul had
experienced the great grace (unmerited favor; free gift)
of God’s forgiveness in Jesus Christ, and was willing to
suffer to carry on Christ’s ministry of forgiveness of
sin (disobedience of God’s Word), reconciliation with
God, and salvation from eternal condemnation and eternal
death. Through the suffering that Paul experienced, he
learned to trust the power and faithfulness of the Lord
to bring him through it
When we experience the love and
goodness of the Lord we will want to share that with
others, so that they can also experience and know the
Lord, and so that the Lord will be glorified more and
more. We will want to build and strengthen the kingdom
of God now and eternally. This temporal lifetime is our
only opportunity to seek and find God (Acts 17:26-27)
which is only possible through faith in Jesus Christ
(Acts 4:12; John 14:6).
This Creation is temporal; it is not
going to last forever, and neither will our physical
bodies. God has created this world with the possibility
of disobedience of God’s Word, so that we will truly
have the freedom to choose whether to trust and obey the
Lord or not, and so that we will have the opportunity to
learn by trial and error that God’s will is good, and our
very best interest. But God won’t tolerate disobedience
forever; he’s set a time limit. We will all face the Day
of Judgment, whether still physically living when Christ
returns, or when we’ve died (John 5:28-29; Matthew
25:31-46).
This world and every material,
physical thing in it, which seems so “real” to us now,
is passing away. We tend to think that “spiritual”
things are unsubstantial, more like “feelings” and
“emotions,” because they are invisible. But spiritual
things are a greater and eternal reality, compared to
the “things” which seem so real to us now. We can begin
to experience spiritual reality now; we can and must
experience spiritual “rebirth” now, in this lifetime, or
we won’t have it in eternity. This brief lifetime is
nothing compared to eternity. The eternal kingdom of God
is the perfect paradise God intended this world to be;
all the bad things in this creation are because of
mankind’s sin.
To enter the Kingdom of Heaven, we
must follow the example and teaching of Jesus. Jesus was
the perfect, sinless Son of God, and worldly people
refused to welcome him and instead persecuted him to
death. Worldly people aren’t going to treat the
followers of Jesus any better. We can expect
persecution, but we, like Paul, believe (“and have come
to know,” from experience; John 6:67-69), and so we
speak.
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23;
Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you
trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you
received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first
truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of
Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus
commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty
where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians
1:13-14)?
First Posted June 18, 2009;
Podcast: Thursday 2 Pentecost B
Mark 3:20-35 -- Jesus’ Authority;
Summary:
Jesus was at home with his disciples,
and a great crowd came to him, so that Jesus and his
disciples didn’t have time even to eat. Jesus’ friends
thought he was going crazy and tried to restrain him.
Teachers of the Law (Jewish Scripture; the Law of Moses)
declared that Jesus was possessed by Beelzebul, the
prince of demons (Satan), and that Jesus got his
authority and power over demons from Beelzebul.
Commentary:
Jesus used parables (common examples
from everyday earthly experience) to teach spiritual
truth. An earthly kingdom divided against itself
collapses and is replaced by something else. The same
thing is true of a family dynasty, or even a building.
In order to rob a strong man, the strong man must first
be restrained and subdued.
Jesus declared that every sin of
mankind is forgivable (even blasphemy against Jesus
Christ, according to Matthew 12:32), but blasphemy
against the Holy Spirit is an eternal, unforgivable sin.
Jesus was doing great miracles,
“signs” which were intended to reveal his power and
authority as the Son of God, the “anointed,” eternal
king of Israel, the heir to the Throne of David, and the
long-awaited Messiah and Savior. Jesus’ physical
healings were intended to reveal that Jesus is the only
one who can heal spiritual illness. His feeding miracles
(for example: Mark 6:30-44) were designed to show that
he alone can feed and nurture us spiritually. His
raising the physically dead to physical life (for
example: Mark 5:22-23, 35-42, and his own Resurrection
(Matthew 28:1-10; John 21:1-14; 1-29; 1 Corinthians
15:3-8), demonstrated that Jesus can raise the
physically dead to spiritual, eternal life. Spiritual
rebirth (John 3:3, 5-8) is possible only through faith
(obedient trust) in Jesus, by the gift of his Holy
Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:33), only to his
disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17).
A few people recognized the signs and
became his disciples, but most of the people who came to
him sought him only for the physical healing and
physical bread he could provide. Even his friends did
not understand the miracles, and thought that Jesus was
losing his sanity; that he was “out of his mind” (Mark
3:21). His own family was concerned about his wellbeing
(Mark 3:31-32). The “religious” “authorities” declared
that Jesus’ authority and power over demons came from
Satan. If they thought Jesus’ authority was from Satan,
where did they think their own authority was from?
Jesus’ power was by the Holy Spirit
of God within him (Colossians 2:8-9; John 1:32; Romans
8:9). Jesus warned that the only unforgivable sin is
blasphemy (irreverence; contempt, particularly against
something considered sacred) against the Holy Spirit.
Anyone who interprets the goodness and holiness of the
presence and works of the Holy Spirit as evil and
demonic is hopelessly spiritually corrupt, and cannot be
redeemed from that corruption because he has cut himself
from the One who can cleanse and restore him to
spiritual health and life. The Lord doesn’t condemn the
blasphemer; the blasphemer has condemned himself.
Who do you say Jesus is? Is Jesus
your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus'
disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus
(John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling Holy
Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are
you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them
to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do
you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1
John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Friday 2 Pentecost B
First Posted June 19, 2009;
Podcast: Friday 2 Pentecost B
Proverbs 9:1-10 -- Divine Wisdom;
Summary:
Wisdom is portrayed as a gracious
hostess, who has built her house, established on “seven
pillars.” She has prepared a great feast and has
invited all who are “simple,” who realize that they lack
wisdom, to partake of her feast of bread and wine. She
calls them to leave “simpleness” and live; and follow
the way of insight in their daily lives.
The wicked and the scoffer hate
correction and retaliate with abuse and anger against
those who attempt to correct them, but a wise man will
accept and appreciate correction, and will learn and
grow in wisdom and understanding.
“The fear of the Lord is the
beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One
is insight” (Proverbs 9:10).
Commentary:
Wisdom, portrayed here, is not what
the world falsely calls “wisdom,” but divine wisdom, by
which God created this world, and on which this world is
founded (Proverbs 8:22-31; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25,
2:6-7). God offers his divine wisdom to all who realize
their lack of wisdom, and who are willing to receive and
learn from divine correction.
Jesus is not only the Word of God
(John 1:1-5, 14), but the wisdom of God, fulfilled,
embodied and exemplified in human form (Colossians
2:8-9). Jesus is the only one who can remove the veil of
“spiritual ignorance” that lies over the minds of
unbelievers (2 Corinthians 3:14-16; Luke 23:45). Through
the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus
gives (John 1:31-34) only to his disciples who trust and
obey Jesus (John 14:15-17) our minds are opened to
understand the Holy Scriptures (the Bible; Luke 24:32,
45). The Holy Spirit will teach “born-again” (John 3:3,
5-8) Christians all things (John 14:26).
The fear (awe and respect for the
power and authority) of God is the beginning of true
wisdom. Anyone who does not fear the sovereign
all-powerful God, who has the authority to give us
eternal life in his kingdom in heaven or eternal
condemnation and death in hell certainly is unwise (see
God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home). True
wisdom, the awe, and respect for God, makes it possible
for us to come to personally know and have fellowship
with the Holy One, Jesus Christ, through his indwelling
Holy Spirit. The meaning and purpose of life in this
temporal world is to come to a personal knowledge of,
and fellowship with God (Acts 17:26-27), and this is
only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus
Christ (Acts 4:12; John 14:6).
The feast of wisdom, to which all are
invited, is to the Lord’s Supper (the Eucharist; “Holy
Communion”), the participation in the feast of sacrifice
of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, sacrificed once
for all who are willing to receive it, for the
forgiveness of our sins (disobedience of God’s Word).
The Lord’s Supper is the foretaste of the great feast in
heaven that we will share eternally in the Lord’s
presence.
Saturday 2 Pentecost B
First Posted June 20, 2009;
Podcast: Saturday 2 Pentecost B
Luke 14:15-24 -- The Great Banquet;
Summary:
Jesus was a guest at a dinner in the
house of a religious leader and Pharisee (Luke 14:1).
One of the guests remarked how blessed it would be for
those who will be invited to the Great Banquet in the
kingdom of heaven. Jesus replied with a parable (a story
of a common earthly experience to teach a spiritual
truth).
Jesus said that a man had prepared a
great banquet and had invited his friends. When the time
came he sent his servants to summon the guests, but each
one asked to be excused because they had other pressing
worldly things they regarded as more important. The
servant reported to his master, who decided to invite
the poor and handicapped to his banquet in place of his
original guests who had declined. The servant did so,
but still there was room, so the master sent his servant
to compel passers-by, so that the banquet would be full
and the original guests would not be able to change
their minds and find room for themselves at the banquet.
Commentary:
The parable describes the kingdom of
heaven. God is the master, and the banquet represents
the joy and fellowship with the Lord in his eternal
kingdom. Jesus and his disciples are his servants who
have been instructed to summon his guests. His invited
guests originally represent the Jews, and now represent
the Church, which is the “New Israel.”
The invitation to God’s kingdom is
open to everyone, but the poor, blind and crippled, both
physically and spiritually, will be receptive and
appreciative of the invitation and the banquet, whereas
the “invited” may be unwilling to give up their worldly
interests in order to accept and act on the invitation.
Are we allowing our pursuit of
career, home, family, material possessions, and physical
pleasure to keep us from accepting God’s invitation in
Jesus Christ and doing God’s will so that we can attend
the banquet? Do we think we can wait until the last
minute to show up and still find a place for us at the
table?
