The Ultimate Invitation

 

 

A heavenly Invitation

Iain Lanphier is an eighth grader from Scottsdale, Arizona.  Iain Lanphier is the great-grandson of Tuskegee Airman Charles McGee. He was a special guest at the White House. This was a very special day: It is an honor to be invited by the highest authority in the land. I am sure it would be a big deal for me. Now, can you imagine an invite from God in heaven? I think that it is the most prestigious of an invite there can be. Jesus is speaking to the crowd using a story of children. You know kids can be awful to each other sometimes, don’t you? These kids were trying to play a game and the other kids on the other block responded negatively, they simply didn’t want to play nice, which understandably frustrated the others. But here in this story, Jesus wanted to drive a point with regards to John the Baptist. John had challenged people to repent, saying hey, a new era is underway, you are invited to change and prepare for a new empire coming from heaven. And now He, Jesus had been inviting them to celebrate with him on the table, and guess what? they refused and started calling him names: a glutton and a drunkard. That’s not very nice. Wait, I think this may concern us as well, if we fail to notice God’s invite. Yes, God’s invite is out for us to come and lay off our burdens and heal directly from his divine hand+   .

Responding to an official invite is serious business. We often have to RSVP and dress accordingly. In our normal lives, we are invited in weddings and rejoice with the happy couple and also, we go to funerals and cry with those who lost a loved one. Jesus’ point is a smart one: How come you respond to those invites of weddings and funerals and when John the Baptist gives you his invite about repentance, you do not respond? And neither you responded to mine when I invite you to come and share with me on the table? This is what I think Jesus is saying: “Look, you are missing out. I came to give you life, I tried to get your attention but I got no response or the wrong response. My invite was for you to walk with me, so I can heal you and relieve you of your burdens, give you hidden manna, the bread from heaven. Walk with me so I can share divine wisdom with you. I want you to be  firmly grafted on me: the vine tree, where I can feed you. Learn from me, respond to my invite when I speak to you from Holy Scripture. Don’t be like those foolish children not playing nice. Listen to me, don’t be like THIS generation, unfaithful; unrepentant; hurling bitter words at each other.” Does this sound familiar?

THIS generation that Jesus speaks of, is now us! These symptoms, we do have them. No wonder, we don’t know what to do in the face of complex issues of our day. We need divine wisdom so we can flat out admit that without God, we are in over our heads, we are guilty of unfruitfulness, that kind that Father Jeff was teaching us the other day about Jesus cursing the fig tree. I hope you listened to that one. We have been guilty of foolish talk like kids not playing nice. We have been guilty of lack of faith by allowing our hearts to be filled with the cares of the world instead of being full of the Holy Spirit. God help us! The cares of the world choke the word of God in us and distract us from what the most important: our souls. Have you noticed how disquieted our souls have been lately? Too much noise everywhere!

Be still and know that I am God! PS 46:10 Jesus says: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matt 11:28. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jer. 29:11

Respond to God’s invite and come to Jesus for healing and unloading of burdens.

Amen.