This parable is similar to the one told in Matthew 22:2-10. However, in Matthew, the story is much more an allegory with the "king" being God, who gives the feast, and the "servants" being the prophets and apostles, who are mistreated. Luke's telling of the parable is more open ended, but Luke also expands the parable. After those who are invited refuse the invitation, the servant goes out to the streets and lanes of the city (the sinners and outcasts), and then goes even further, out to the highways and hedges. In other words, the servant goes out into the larger world, the gentile world. For the religious authorities, who had invited Jesus to dinner, his parable would have been offensive on a number of levels. As people, who saw themselves being invited to the banquet because of their piety, the idea that they would be standing outside, because of their refusal, and that sinners, outcasts, and gentiles would be invited into the feast was unimaginable. Of course, the Kingdom of God has a way of turning the world upside down. That is true even today. We have been claimed by the grace of God and we have a way of turning that gift into a sense of entitlement rather than responsibility. Church becomes a place where the good people of this world go on Sunday rather than people who realize they are in need of the grace of God. Having God claim us does not make us better than others. We are all sinners, who are surprised when the invitation is given to come to the banquet, and go with a sense of deep gratitude and willingness to serve.
On Wednesday, the deeper conversation surrounded the question of whether God knew we would fall short when he gave the law or was God surprised when the law didn't work. Has God changed through time in response to what we have done or failed to do? The scripture seems to support that God does change. Certainly, there is evidence in the Old Testament of God changing his mind. The Flood, Abraham speaking on behalf of those in Sodom, and Jonah are three examples. If God does not change, what is the meaning of God's suffering, God's listening to the cry of his people, and God's answering prayers. The group realized that the scripture reflects the understanding of God's people through time and therefore the view of God changes as the people of God's own understanding of God changes. God is made known through time. God remains constant, but our perception changes. Jesus challenged the religious authorities about their understanding of God, not because God had changed, but because their understanding had gone down the wrong road. They had shaped a theology and given God credit, but God did not conform to their theology. Jesus wanted to challenge their view.
The group didn't stop there. There are elements of change in God through the witness of scripture. God is dynamic, rather than static. The unchanging part of God is God's faithfulness, mercy, and grace. However, the future is not etched in stone. We are not following a path that has already been assigned. We are not going through the motions of living our lives. We make choices and often bad choices. The good news is that God again and again meets us where we are in faithfulness, mercy, and grace. God always has a counter to our actions so that our future is secure. God ultimately prevails because God always has the last word and that word is always grace. We can take great comfort in that knowledge.
I hope people continue to follow this blog. The Wednesday Book of Faith group wants to share with others their conversation and hope that the discussion is as meaningful to those who read the blog as it is for those who come on Wednesday.
Peace,
Pastor Summer
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