Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for everything is ready now.’ But they all alike began to make excuses.”
NL Daily Devotion for Friday, March 5, 2021
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
The truth is that all the excuses the guests gave in this parable were completely valid ones. Culturally speaking for the time, they were perfectly acceptable and the host shouldn’t have been too bent out of shape. Of course, the fact that all the guests had excuses would be irritating for anyone!
We all have excuses—valid excuses—for not heeding God’s call at any particular moment. We are imperfect and limited, and God’s call is all-consuming. I think God has more grace for us than this parable would imply.
That being said, we all have lots of invalid excuses for not heeding God’s call at any particular moment. We get immersed in our comfort zones and God specifically calls us out of those and into the uncomfortable, messy world to do God’s work on behalf of the oppressed and marginalized.
What we forget is that God is inviting us to a banquet, not a slaughter or any other exercise in misery. Ultimately, willing and working to do God’s will, however challenging, brings joy and celebration. When we make excuses, we exclude ourselves from full participation in God’s reign in the here and now. Perhaps it is time to rethink our excuses.
What excuses do I have for not fully engaging in God’s call?
