The Empty Banquet Hall

or

It's my Party and I'll Cry if I want to - God

watercolor and espresso, (mostly espresso)

The Banquet

God has prepared a banquet for us. The psalmist speaks of the banquet in a pastoral beauty.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head
with oil; my cup overflows.

Isaiah speaks of the mountain of the Lord.

On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich
food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged
wines strained clear.
And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that
is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will
swallow up death forever.

It was the feast symbolized by Eucharist that on that mountain destroyed death forever. A feast of his flesh and blood set for us.

Jesus tells of the king who prepares a feast. The first to be invited refuse. Then all are called to the hall, and yet the one with out the proper robes is not chosen. This parable seems strange and harsh. Oh, Jesus help us to understand your words. Did this man refuse to be robed in the saving garment of the Christ? Was it unfashionable to him?

Lord may we be counted among those whose tears are wiped away, may we not dishonor you with the vile things we choose to wear, but rather remove the disgrace of your people from all the earth!

The Lord is near (Proper A23)

I never realized it before, but I didn’t know the exodus story, I knew “The Ten Commandments” epic. By the time of the golden calf the assembly had heard the commandments and had promised, “everything the Lord has said, we will do.” The tablets Moses broke when he saw the calf were the tablets of the Testimony, it seems to me that they were more the assurance of the covenant, God’s signature, than the 10 commandments.

Instructions had already been given to consecrate Aaron as priest when he failed. Moses acted as priest and stood in the breach for the people. And God changed his mind!

Paul declares

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.

Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.

For the people of Israel the nearness of the Lord didn’t cause rejoicing, but fear. Forty days and nights with out Moses was all it took for them to despair and call for new gods. Let us not despair, but rejoice, thinking on what is good and wonderful!

Communion

Cliff said he can't imagine preaching this week's gospel text without having communion.

Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.'

Luky for me this is our traditional communion Sunday. Thank you for your banquetting table!