Jesus told a story once, about a man who planned a dinner party and whose invited guests all declined, for a variety of not-very-important reasons. Instead of canceling the dinner, the host ordered his servants to go out into the streets and invite people who don’t ordinarily get to attend fancy dinner parties: the poor, the blind, the lame.
When they all found their way to the table, there was still room, so the host sent the servants out again: “compel people to come,” he said, “so that my house may be filled.” Matthew tells the same story. In his version, the host tells his servants “invite everyone, the good and the bad.”
What an amazing idea that is. The banquet table is open. It is not reserved for those who have the correct beliefs about the food. It is not restricted to those who uphold particular moral standards. It certainly is not restricted to those who espouse a particular ideology or political philosophy. This table, Jesus said, is radically open. All are welcome here.
God has an open-armed welcome to all the children of God to return home—where they belong, where all of us belong, at the table; that beautiful, divine impatience that will not be satisfied until all the barriers and boundaries are gone and all are in and the house of God is full.
Dr. Willy L Mafuta, Ph.D, Th.D
Senior Pastor,
Hopewell United Methodist Church, Hopewell, NJ 08525