Susan had chosen her dress with care. It was a beautiful, sparkling, purple gown that reached to the floor and shimmered in the light. She fingered the specially designed invitations she had sent to all her friends. To mark the occasion she had spared no expense. This was an offering to those who loved her to celebrate all that had happened. Great care had been given to every detail.
She walked slowly into the banquet hall and noted the gleaming dance floor that had been laid, the riot of colorful flowers sitting on the purest white linen that decorated every table. Susan inhaled deeply and took in the smells of roasting meat and the succulent aromas of the side dishes carefully prepared. A glance toward the back of the hall revealed an amazing display - a sweets table laden with delicate cakes and pastries.
Susan allowed her mind to roam to the joy her friends would feel as they came to sing and dance together, to eat and drink, to enjoy her success and this offering of a celebration. She smiled in anticipation.
The minutes turned into hours. The hours passed slowly. No guests arrived.
MATTHEW 22:1 – 14 – The Parable of the Wedding Banquet
The king prepares a wedding banquet for his son. The guests refuse to come, pay no attention, and say they are too busy. The king is enraged.
Verse 10 - “So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.”
Written in the modern day we can readily feel for Susan who has made great efforts for a celebration with her friends.
But do we feel the pain of our Father who has prepared not only a banquet table but also a mansion? Can we feel His emotions as His invitation is ignored?