Jesus replied, “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.'”
But they all alike began to make excuses…
The owner became very angry and ordered his servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame…make them come in, so that my house will be full.” Luke 14:16-24 (paraphrased)
A young man stumbles up the road, trying to focus on the three girls he sees standing ahead of him on top of the hill. To him, they seem miles away, yet he feels drawn to them. So he pushes on up the hill…slips on some loose gravel…regains his balance (the little that remains)…and pushes himself forward. “They have something I want. I don’t know what it is…Lord, help me!” he cries out desperately from deep within his soul.
Shawna, Amanda and I are instantly drawn to the individual at the bottom of the hill. It looks like he must have spent his day with ‘the bottle’ that numbs and entraps. We look at each other, raise our eyebrows in silent communication and begin to pray for the gentleman as he attempts to keep himself on the road. We take a step closer as we see him about loose his balance. Shawna states, “He’s coming with us right now!”
It was an hour before Wednesday night church service and we were on a mission: bring people to the table. Invite those we find on the streets to the ‘great feast’. We had been handing out flyers to people in the community for the last half an hour. Most individuals graciously listen to our invitation, but few show up. Some make up excuses: I have to work, maybe next time or I’m too tired tonight. The banquet is prepared, but many are not hungry.
After a few minutes, the young man finally reaches the “three saints” on the apex of the hill. He tries to focus on their faces. He squints. It looks like they are smiling. He leans forward and turns his head to better hear what they are saying. He so wants to understand the words that are trying to register in his brain. He concentrates some more…All he can mutter is, “You are my saints” as he motions by lifting his left hand to his mouth indicating that he has been drinking all day. He still wants what they have and will follow them anywhere to get it.
“Well, if we are your saints,” Shawna replies to our new friend, pointing in the direction of the church, “You better follow us to the iglesia.” She smiles at me proudly, “Iglesia means church, right?” I laugh as I grab one of his arms, “Como te llamas?” After a minute of empty stares, the words finally must have registered in his brain. “Salud,” he mumbles. I caught it on his third attempt. Church didn’t start for another hour, but we knew if we just let him stumble around and try to find the building on his own, he wouldn’t make it. And as servants of the Most High, we are commanded “to make them come in.”
That night, after a few hours of sobering up, eating some food and drinking water, reading the bible, listening to the message…he accepted the Lord into heart. He has been coming to every church service and has been hanging out at the church a lot since then. He is a changed man. You can see it on his face. Now, instead of drinking his days away, he fills them with scripture. Last night he was reading about the Lord’s birth. We have had the opportunity to pour into him over the past week and Pastor Nestor has taken him under his wing. Discipleship is key as he matures in is walk with Christ.
Drunkeness runs rampant in Palenque. The Spirit of alcoholism claims more mens’ lives than not. Jesus calls these men to His table. To join him in ‘the great feast’. He is not embarrassed of them. These are just the men he calls to himself. And as his hands and feet…as his servants, we are called not only to invite them in, but to bring them a step closer into the kingdom of God.
