What are your dinners like? Is it only your family who is invited to join you? Do you occasionally invite friends over? What about parties? Do you invite anyone other than friends and family? Have you ever considered inviting someone else? Why not? Will you in the future?
Family dinners can be a wonderful time of laughing, remembrance, and enjoying a good meal. Inviting friends to dinner can be much the same. There is the familiarity and common stories to be shared. The collective memory of the group fills in the details of those stories.
Most of us will not invite people we do not know to dinner. Yet, Jesus tells us to do so. Let’s not go overboard here. What Jesus is saying is that we are to care for those on the margins as much as we care for our family. When we host a meal for the homeless, we are doing good for those who can never repay us. Jesus says that is when we are repaid by God.
However, we should not invite those on the margins with the intent of being rewarded by God. Yes, our motivation and intent are important. We are to do things for others, especially those who are less fortunate, not to gain a reward, but with the love of God in our hearts. Our motivation is to be us returning God’s love for us by sharing his love for others.
On multiple occasions Jesus demonstrates His care for people, especially those who are in need, less fortunate, rejected, or outcast. He set the example for us. When He says we are to care for the widow, the hungry, and the orphans, He is telling us to follow His example. If we are going to follow His example, we must overcome stereotypes and prejudices. May we all do so.
I pray we all choose to follow Jesus’ example. I pray we choose to care for people on the margins. I pray each one of us will choose to share our blessings from God with others. Follow Jesus’ example. Care for others. Care for people on the margins. Share your blessings with others.
Luke 14:13-14 “But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Marty Pressey 