Luke 14:15-24 (NRSV)
Read Luke 14:15-24 on biblegateway.com
Verse 15One of the dinner guests, on hearing this, said to him, "Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!" Verse 16Then Jesus said to him, "Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. Verse 17At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, 'Come; for everything is ready now.' Verse 18But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my regrets.' Verse 19Another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my regrets.' Verse 20Another said, 'I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come.' Verse 21So the slave returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, 'Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.' Verse 22And the slave said, 'Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room." Verse 23Then the master said to the slave, 'Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. Verse 24For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.'"
Devotion
The excuses sound reasonable enough; the immediate affairs of the world, marriage, property and business, require our attention. They are part of the numerous vocations that shape our lives as creatures of God living in the world God loves. But it is a matter of discernment: be heedful of the challenge of the moment. Be bold to recognize the urgent, ultimate call of the Savior, leaving business as usual by the side of the road. “Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”
Prayer
Dearest Jesus, give us ears to hear your call and hearts to rise to its challenge. Amen.