Invitation

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Invitation

Marginalized     Forsaken

Extend   Selfless   Generosity

A Place of Honor

Humbly

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Luke 14:13

Jesus was telling a parable to those who were invited to a feast and who were seeking a place of honor. He said:

"When you hold a great feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind."

Reflection

Kathy and I love getting invitations. It always makes us excited to open them and to read about the party or event. I feel good that someone has thought about us. 

Of course, sometimes there are conflicts, and we can't attend. The kindness of someone to invite us, however, always touches our hearts.

Jesus talks about invitations in our reading from Luke. He mentions that some people who get invitations are looking to take the best seats at the table. They want to be recognized. They think that they are important.

Jesus has a different approach. He is concerned about the marginalized. He warns us about taking those good seats and encourages us to take the seats in the back. If someone calls us up to a better seat, that's fine. If they don't, that's fine as well. After all, we are at the feast!!

Instead of thinking about ourselves and where we are to sit, Jesus tells us to invite the forsaken of society. We should be thinking of those who are poor and be sure to invite them to our table. It is much more important to serve the needs of our sisters and brothers who are hungry than to serve our own egos.

We are called to extend friendship and healing to the crippled. Jesus knows that there are many people who are hurting and in pain. We can't be indifferent to what they are experiencing. Some are crippled physically and others emotionally by the abuse they have received from parents, teachers, or peers. They need us to extend our care and concern to them and to let them know how special they are in God's eyes.

Jesus asks us to be selfless in helping the lame. We need to slow down and walk with them and support them step by step. I heard a moving story recently about a young lady competing in the Special Olympics on crutches. She was running very slowly. Everyone slowed down and watched as she was finishing the race. They all gave her a very loud and enthusiastic round of applause as she crossed the finish line. 

They were responding to the invitation of Jesus with generosity. They did not take the place of honor for themselves. They gave it to her!

Jesus is calling us to act humbly and to always remember the marginalized. We need to spend less time thinking about being honored and more time honoring those who have been forgotten and overlooked.

Jesus is giving all of us a special invitation to His Feast. He asks us to be careful to extend the invitation to EVERYONE, especially those whom we seem to forget and ignore.

Enjoy your invitation!

Welcome to the Jesus Feast!

1. How do you feel when you get an invitation?

2. Do you like to get the best seats at a party or event you attend?

3. According to Jesus, what seats should we take?

4. How do you try to help those who are crippled?

5. Who will you invite to the Feast?

6. What do you feel as you reflect on Kathy's photo?

(Scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)