Excuses that keep us
from God
It is possible to
think of reasons why a person should not need an education, yet it is
very important for us to work hard, study and receive a degree. It is
possible to think of excuses not to save, not to eat healthy, or not
to exercise, and yet if we choose not to do these things, there are
clear consequences to our quality of life. Spiritual matters have an even
greater weight in our life than all of these things, and yet they seem to be
the easiest to put aside with excuses.
The Lord said this
parable: "A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the
time of the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited,
'Come; for all is now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses. The
first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I go out and see it; I pray you,
have me excused.' And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I
must go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, 'I
have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' So the servant came and
reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant,
'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and
maimed and blind and lame.' And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has
been done, and there is still room.' And the master said to the servant, 'Go
out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may
be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my
banquet. For many are called, but few are chosen.'" (Luke
14:16-24; Matthew 22:14),
In the Parable of the
Great Banquet, many were invited to come and partake freely of a superb banquet.
They were invited and called; yet each one had an excuse as to why they could
not come. It is interesting to consider how many times in our life God
calls us, invites us, and yet there are many things that still get in our
way. Excuses are reasons we convince ourselves not to do something that
we really should do. Often it involves the idea that what we should be
doing is uncomfortable.
God has an amazing way
in our life to reach out to us. Every Sunday and Feast Day, we are
invited to the “Banquet” of the Divine Liturgy and to partake. Sometimes
we forget to fast, or are too tired to prepare properly. Sometimes we
choose not to come to Church at all. Sometimes
our own desires and wants leave God in the background of our life, waiting for
a convenient time when we will respond to His call, His invitation.
God will call those
who will want hear. He has reached out in His generosity and kindness to
all who will listen, to the sinner, to the poor and maimed, to all people
compelling them to come in.
Imagine for a moment,
that Christ were standing right in front of you. Right here, you could
see Him, and hear Him and touch Him. And with a warm loving smile He
looked you right in the eyes and invited you to partake of a Banquet that is so
amazing and so incredible it could not be fully understood. Everyday, He
invites you to come to Him, to give your life to Him, to fulfill your life
through Him.
Our Banquet is Paradise,
a place that knows no suffering, a place where we are together as a family,
knowing love on levels we never knew existed. Being in God’s presence, is an
incredible Banquet where life is eternal.
What excuses would you
let get in the way of this Banquet?
Your invitation has
been sent! Christ is here, now! Right here with us! Here and now He is
looking into your eyes with love, and reaching out to touch your heart.
It is now up to you to respond. Up to you to take steps forward. Up
to you to let Christ take your hand and lead you to this incredible Banquet,
that only He can give. Won’t you RSVP? Won't you prepare? Say Yes! And NEVER let any excuses
come between you and God! As the Gospel says “Come; for all things are now
ready.”
Fr Ted Toppses
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