A few weeks ago in the worship class we were given the assignment of creating a worship piece on the Parable of the Great Banquet found in Luke 14, from the perspective of an undeserving guest (so basically anybody, because we are all undeserving guests). If you are unfamiliar with the story, first go read it, and here is a short summary.
A wealthy man was giving a banquet so he invited his other wealthy friends, however they rejected his invitation at the last second and gave lame excuses as to why they could not attend. Disappointed that his friends rejected his invitation to his banquet he gave his servants instructions to invite the poor, crippled, lame, widows, and orphans, anybody on the steets. So they did and they came but still there was room at the table for more.
I was standing alone in the alley beside my house
It is dark and cold, the air burns my lungs like the liquor burns my throat as it makes it way through my body to numb the pain.
The pain inflicted by men who marked me with scars and words that have left their mark like brandings on my skin.
I was only worth to them as much as the change left in their pockets.
My value was reduced down to an object for men’s pleasure.
For that was my trade
After my body went numb from the cold I made my way back to my apartment
When I reached my room there was a piece of paper attached to the door,
Another eviction notice, I ripped it off and went inside
inside I looked at the paper again, I had practically memorized them by now
But this was not like all the others
It was handwritten in scarlet ink
It read, “Today, there will be a great banquet in The City on The Hill. There will be feasting, fun, fantastic sights, and far more than can be for seen. It would bring us much joy if you would attend. A cab has already been sent it will arrive at 5. Simply come as you are, your presence is the only gift needed. Signed with a flourish
That was not an eviction notice, that was an invitation to a great banquet!
The first thing I do is look up at the clock, it’s nearly 5 o’clock
I hesitated thinking if I could be ready in time for the cab.
Then I came to my senses,
Why would I be invited to a great banquet?
This invitation couldn’t have really been meant for me?
I am being invited for entertainment.
But
I had heard of The City on the Hill, good people lived there,
Generous, kind, important people
Why would they want anything to do with me? No one has before
Then
I looked back at the invitation
It was sincere, handwritten in scarlet ink, someone had taken a lot of care and time to write it out. And it was taped to my door.
I let myself dream a little longer, I thought about what I would wear, how I’d do my hair, the food that would be there, and I would finally get to see inside the mansion in The City on the Hill that I had dreamed of seeing inside since I was a little girl.
Beep Beeeep
Suddenly brought out of my day dream I looked at the clock, It was 5, That was the cab, and I was not ready.
Losing all of my wits I ran down out the door to the awaiting cab to ask him for just 10 more minutes.
When I reached the side of the cab I knocked on the window about to ask for a little more time but the driver opened the door at my knock and invited me in without any hesitation.
He invited me in with a smile and kind eyes and called me by name.
Upon hearing my name all fears, hesitations and anxiety fell.
I got in the cab and we were off
I felt like Cinderella off to the ball, although I was in jeans and a tee, I felt like a queen.
We arrived at the door step of the mansion before I knew it, “How could I have been this close to the mansion all this time? It had always looked so far away.” I pondered to myself.
Upon reaching the steps of the mansion my eyes grew wide
It was more beautiful than my most vivid dreams as a child.
Butterflies began to burst from their cocoons in the pit of my stomach
What was I doing here?
I don’t deserve to be here
I made my way up the grand steps to the door
I held my breath as I walked, “What if they see me and turn me away?”
I lifted my hand to knock and the door glided open
Immediately I noticed the grandeur of it all
The high ceilings, chandeliers, marble floors and the longest table stretching from end to end of the room.
There were more seats at this table than I could count
Some seats were taken other seats were waiting expectantly to be filled the place already set with dishes and fine crystal glasses
As I made my way to an open seat I noticed the people who had already taken their seat. They all had different stories.
Some were young, old, sick, suffering from addiction, depression; some were crippled, teen mothers, and beggars from the street corners, all of the outcasts from all over town. The people that if you passed them on the street you’d walk past as fast as you could, avoid eye contact, and the fact that they even existed.
I was one of them too
Once I had taken my seat He who had invited us stood at the head of the table
He said, “Welcome, you have taken the invitation I have given you and are here to join me in celebration and thanksgiving. For I have been given abundance. Now enjoy, feast and let us celebrate together!
Was I dreaming? If I was I never wanted to wake up
His heart was so pure and although he had much he was willing to give it all away to strangers, outcasts, the least deserving of all
Me
He invited me in knowing how broken I was,
set a place for me at the table with him,
Served me the best he had, with holding none
We feasted, laughed and enjoyed each other’s company until the sun rose the next morning.
Upon leaving he who had invited us said one last thing
“You will always have a seat at my table, come when you are joyful, or sorrowful, hungry or fully satisfied. Come as you are, you will always be welcome”.
Writing this piece made me think about the parable of the great banquet in a new way, a lot like writing the story about Judas did. Writing these short pieces has made the Bible come alive to me. I encourage other people to give it a try!
