A retelling of Matthew 22:1-10.

Once upon a time there was a king, with a son he very much loved. The king’s son was to be married, with no expense spared. For when a king plans a wedding you know it’s going to be good.

The venue would be grand, the best in all the land. With the resources of an entire kingdom at his disposal, there was no limit on what this day could be.

Weddings of course require invitations, lists must be made. In this way the wedding would be like any other. Family was asked, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, grandkids aplenty. And the friends list? It was a sight to behold. The list was filled with VIPs, people to see and to be seen: kings and queens, princes and princesses, dukes and duchesses, diplomats, rabbis, priests, merchants of means.

List now finalized invitations were sent. The king hoped all invited could attend.

The decorations, clothing, music, drink and food were planned to perfection. A favored son of the kingdom was to be married, and what a banquet it would be. This celebration would be legendary, lore passed down from one generation to the next.

Preparations complete, the king sent messengers out, to let the invited know the joyous celebration would soon begin. Dinner was ready. Oxen and calves and the finest of foods, all there to enjoy. And if the wine happened to run out? No worries, the king joked, my son could whip something up 😉.

But then the strangest thing happened. The invited did not come. The friends and family, the dukes and diplomats, the merchants of means instead chose to stay home. They went about their business like it was any other day. They ignored the gathering entirely, as if it was of no importance at all. And worse? Some mocked the wedding, laughed at the king, mistreated his messengers.

Staring out at an empty banquet hall, with invitation list in hand, the king pictured where each person would have sat. Emotions rushed over him; sadness, disappointment, anger. The day was nothing he had hoped it would be.

The dining, drinking and dancing, so precisely planned, would have to wait.

For without guests, a party simply isn’t.

The king’s soul was crushed. Looking down at the invitation list, filled with no-shows, the king realized something. The system he’d relied on, of who’s invited and who isn’t, had failed him.

The New Plan
The celebration must go on, the king realized. Clearly filling the empty seats would require a different approach. Something must change.

For it was a new day.
Which called for a new way.
A John 3:16 moment, through and through.

The king, a creator at heart, was determined to make something out of nothing. He’d done it before. He’d do it again.

So he sent out his messengers, this time with a different assignment. Invite everyone you meet to the banquet. For this king so loved the whole world. There would be no exceptions. No lists made that exclude.

Not this time.

So the messengers went.
The messengers found.
The messengers invited.

On their journeys the messengers encountered all kinds of people not on that first list.

Some were sick, too ill to celebrate much of anything. Get them the finest doctors, the king declared, the best treatments in the land. Heal them, he said. Send the bill to me. Make sure you invite them too, the king reminded. And when they show up? Let them in.

Some the messengers encountered were hungry, living from meal to meal. That’s easy, the king thought. There’s plenty of food at the banquet. Tell them their stomachs will be filled. And they can take as much as they like home. When they show up open the doors. Let them in.

Looking at the old guest list with new eyes, the king realized entire swaths of people had been left off. We didn’t invite the gays and the lesbians the first time around? The king was embarrassed. They’re fabulous, he thought, the life of any good party. Go find them, invite them, and let them in!

A messenger then came back with some troubling news. The king learned, at the borders of his land, there were people being denied entrance. What? The king’s face became flush. Learning of this injustice he was furious. How did this happen? Invite them to the banquet! Let them in!

And all the others, with lives that definitely mattered, yet weren’t initially invited? Find them, the king said. Tell them of the grand celebration. Make sure they know they are wanted. That we hope and pray they attend. And when they show up? You know what to do, the king told the messengers. Roll out the red carpet. Open the palace doors wide.

Let them in.
Let them in.
Let them in.

The messengers did.
The people came.
A celebration ensued.

Before long the wedding hall was filled with guests, each there to celebrate a favored son. This son was, after all, what drew them together.

For it was then, and only then, that the grand banquet, complete with dining, drinking, dancing, unending joy, unending laughter, could begin.

Hereafter
The kingdom of heaven is like that wedding, Jesus reminds.

Filled with people, filled with surprises. Each person there filled with backstories our fallen human selves might initially judge. Therein lies the beauty of God’s kingdom. It is a judgement free zone, designed for all.

Our own wedding celebrations, by nature, have limits. There are bills to pay, mouths to feed, halls that fit only so many. Yet we recognize that it’s better to celebrate the most special of days without restriction, without limit, without exception.

To successfully marry the earthly and the divine, as has always been the plan, getting the invitation list just so might be toughest part of all.

Fortunately, we don’t have to wait until the heavenly hereafter to experience this grand banquet as originally designed. In fact, we’re called to take part in bringing about this kingdom on earth. Right here. Right now.

Today
We are called to help unify a colorful, eclectic, diverse creation that includes those with, those without. Called to live in perfect harmony with the Creator. All made possible thanks to the life, death, and resurrection of the Son. We are guided daily by the winds of the Spirit, pointing us wherever the Creator leads.

As we have our own grand celebration in the works – our Stewardship Gala on November 3 will be something – it’s worth mention: If you can’t afford to attend no worries. A generous member of St. John’s has offered to cover your cost, because we want all to attend. Just let us know and a ticket, for no charge, is yours. All are welcome, without exception.

As we pray for Israelis and Palestinians in a time of conflict may we be reminded: putting barriers up that separate never ends well. For we are called to invite each other to a shared banquet, at the same table, breaking bread together, drinking from the cup.

Blessed are the Peacemakers, Christ reminds.
For theirs is the kingdom of God.

Until we can sit down at the same table together that peace on earth will elude.

As we look at our own southern border the same is true. To cite President Ronald Regan during an important moment in history, here’s a thought, when it comes to our southern border:

President Biden, tear down this wall!

These walls perpetuate humanitarian crises.
Simply put, that is not of God.

For we are to expand who we invite into the kingdom to include more.

So rip up your lists that separate, fellow messengers.
Head out, tell everyone you find.
Share the good news of a grand celebration.

One we so hope all attend.
And when God’s beloved show up at the palace door,
You know what to do.

Heed the words of the King.

Throw wide the doors. And –

Let them in.
Let them in.
Let them in.