One of those at table with Jesus said to him,
“Blessed is the one who will dine in the Kingdom of God.”
He replied to him,
“A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many.
When the time for the dinner came,
he dispatched his servant to say to those invited,
‘Come, everything is now ready.’
But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves.
The first said to him,
‘I have purchased a field and must go to examine it;
I ask you, consider me excused.’
And another said, ‘I have purchased five yoke of oxen
and am on my way to evaluate them;
I ask you, consider me excused.’
And another said, ‘I have just married a woman,
and therefore I cannot come.’
The servant went and reported this to his master.
Then the master of the house in a rage commanded his servant,
‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town
and bring in here the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame.’
The servant reported, ‘Sir, your orders have been carried out
and still there is room.’
The master then ordered the servant,
‘Go out to the highways and hedgerows
and make people come in that my home may be filled.
For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.’”
Lectio (Reading)
Read the passage twice and get a sense of what it is saying. Pay attention to what strikes you.Meditatio (Reflecting)
Slowly read the passage again, pausing on words or phrases that stands out. Take time to consider the meaning. particularly in your life.Go out to the highways and hedgerows and make people come in that my home may be filled. For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.’
Oratio (Responding)
Read the passage again, slowly. Consider how God has spoken to you and respond back to Him. You may want to consider how this passage is asking you to act differently.This parable is directed at the jewish people that did not recognize Jesus as lord. The master is God, and the invited guests are the jewish people with whom God had made His covenant, and the beggars, crippled, and lame are the gentiles and pagans of the rest of the world.
What Jesus is saying here is that God made everything for the jews. The wedding feast, represents the marriage of His son to the church. This is the ultimate fulfillment of all of his promises and all of the prophecy, and the great celebration of the Lords plan, come to fulfillment. But the Jewish people mentioned in this parable are too busy to notice. They are occupied with the things of this world, business, or family, and have no time for the things of God. They are essentially rejecting God for the things of this world.
So then the call goes out to the whole world, to all the gentiles and pagans to come to the banquet, and many come, and fill the home, and there is still room, Presumably for the jews, but they will not come, and they will not be included. But the banquet is waiting for us all, will you answer the call?
Contemplatio (Contemplating)
Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.Resolutio (Resolving)
Make a resolution that will improve your life, your relationships, or your faith. Make it small and attainable, and do it.Oh Lord, help me today to not get too caught up with the things of this world, and to recognize you when you speak to me, Amen.