Grace Lutheran Church

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+ In Nomine Jesu +

The Rev. Evan Gaertner

21^st Sunday after Pentecost                                                                                          "Inside the Banquet"

October 9, 2005                                                                                                                       Matthew 21:1-14

There was a time that we were preparing to move and so called a dozen people and asked them to help us load the Ryder Truck. W went out and bought a couple cases of pop and a sub sandwich that was a couple feet long. We planned on thanking all those that came out to help us pack with some good food.

Several people said they were going to be there to help, but 10 am came and only two people were there to help us load the moving truck. And unfortunately those two actually dinged a couple of our nicer pieces of furniture. I made a few phone calls of desperation. Mostly I reached answering machines but the few people that I did get a hold of apologized but claimed that they needed to be some place else. It was a long day loading that truck and we felt very lonely.

In Jesus' story, there is a king that gave a wedding feast for his son. He sent his servants to call those invited to the wedding feast. A great trumpet blast that none could compare to or doubt heralded the beginning of the banquet. But each heard the trumpet call and each for his own decided not to come. The king again sent out other servants to tell the people that had been invited that the wedding banquet was prepared.

The feast was ready. The invitation was sent. Come and be glad share with the king the good joy of his son. But all those that were supposed to be dressed for the feast at the king's palace found reason to take care of his own business. In fact, rather than hearing the continuing urgings of the servants to come to the feast some seized the servants and killed them.

I believe that in this parable that Jesus told of the kingdom of God, tells us about those that God had called to his kingdom. Through his prophets God constantly called the people of Israel to abandon their own vain pursuits and come worship him.

Even in the face of rejection the remarkable grace of God was on display in this parable. The king repeatedly sent his servants to retrieve those that had rejected his invitation. But ultimately the anger of the king boiled to the surface.  I know that some may struggle to understand God in parallel with a king that was angry and sent his troops to destroy those that had rejected his invitation and killed his servants.

The fact that God should grow angry has always met objection. But I want you to consider the anger of the Lord is not a matter of human passion but of righteousness against sin and the obstinate sinner.

Those that had rejected the invitation and murdered the servants lost their own possession as they saw their city go up in flames. In our own experiences we may become disappointed that so many people place the mundane things of living above God's call to live in him and through him. It can be discouraging to find our efforts to reach out with the gospel bring so little result. So maybe you have stopped reaching out with the Gospel and just figure that it is a fruitless task.

I do believe that one cannot ultimately forever reject God and not expect his punishment. I do believe in the judgment of God against sin both in time and in eternity. This harsh yet deserved judgment of God is certain for those that ignore his invitation. But even in the face of this rejection the servants are continuously sent out to proclaim the feast is ready. Even as we face sin and death God's grace is constantly present.

Back to the parable that Jesus told about the kingdom of God:

The king continued to invite to his feast. He did not narrow the list but expanded the list and sent his servants out to all the crossroads in his kingdom to bring people to the feast.

The servants were to go to all the crossroads, going to the place where the people were and to tell them to come and be glad the feast was ready for the good and the bad.

There should be no doubt for Christians that we are sent to go out into the world with the good news of salvation in Jesus. To the very world that beat, mocked, rejected, and crucified, Jesus sends his disciples to share the good news. Jesus commands his disciples saying, "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me" (go therefore and destroy everyone that doesn't like me)….noooo…he says…."go and make disciples of all the nations."

Sometimes a congregation will be satisfied with the evangelism of unlocking the door and propping it open. They know where we are, if they want to come, they will come. But the king doesn't just open the doors to the banquet, he sends his servants to the busiest intersections in his kingdom.

Party Event Planners for the high class VIP parties in New York City and Los Angeles will examine their guest list to make sure that the best of the town are invited. But the king that threw the wedding banquet for his son had his servants bring everyone, the good and the bad to the party.

I want you to consider that as you and I go out into our communities with the good news of Jesus we do not have the authority to pick and choose. We are called to proclaim the good news of Christ to all the nations. You and I do not have the authority to select who we want and who we don't want in our congregation. Look around you and you likely will find some people here in this congregation that get on your nerves. But even so we share the good news with one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.

The reason those who come to the banquet are there is because the king invited them. Then those who come to the banquet are clothed by the king with the wedding garments of his son.

In the kingdom of God we are invited to the celebration of Jesus Christ and his bride the church. We are given garments suitable for such a celebration. Through faith you have put on Christ and have been clothed in the righteousness of Christ. By faith you are dressed with all the pomp and circumstance appropriate for the great wedding feast of Christ and his bride the church.

It does no good to fake your way. When the king came the one that refused the garments of the wedding banquet stood out and was kicked out. But do not fear or doubt whether you are a child of God. God has invited you. The good and the bad come to the feast, through the word and the sacraments we have been clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

We have been clothed with the rejoicing of victory over sin and death. We have been clothed with the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, which guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. We have been clothed with what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellence, worthy of praise. Through your faith in Christ you are dressed for the party.

I pray that you will go to the crossroads of this world, the busy intersections where the kingdom of God intersects with the world of pain and hurt and loneliness. Go to that crossroads and invite others to this wedding feast. Go to the crossroads and let everyone know that the feast is ready. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we are clothed in Christ. No one deserves this invitation but all are invited. This is the grace of God. This is the victory of the cross and the empty tomb being lived and enacted in our community.

Soli Deo Gloria

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