Trinity 2 Sermon: Luke 14.15-24

Last week, we heard about a rich man who threw great feasts; but these parties were for himself, and for his friends and family. Meanwhile, Lazarus lay nearby in the gutter, starving, suffering, lonely. He received no help from that rich man. No food. No consolation. In death, however, he was given a place of honor, next to Abraham, at the heavenly banquet. The rich man had showed him no kindness, but God welcomed Lazarus to His feast, and his body full of sores became strong, his empty stomach was filled, his sorrow turned to joy, his loneliness replaced with eternal friendship with God, angels, and saints.

About that heavenly feast, Jesus today tells a parable proclaiming that everyone is invited; God is the true Rich Man, the world’s King who throws a banquet to end all banquets. The best parties in our experience are exclusive; only the wealthy, the powerful, the famous, the connected get invited. But the guest list for the heavenly party tells us something about the Host: He is incredibly generous. The host, of course, is God, whose generosity knows no bounds. He has been generous to you from the beginning: He gave man a body, a beautiful world to dwell in, and filled it with pleasures and gifts. And even when man spurned the feast God had prepared, and seized instead the diabolical junk food that would destroy him, still God kept on inviting man to His feast.

Today’s parable depicts the people invited in three groups: the prominent Jews; the poor, maimed, lame, and blind Jews; and finally, the Gentiles (those out in the highways and hedges). It is tempting to condemn the people for whom this parable was originally intended – those Jews who were not accepting Jesus; but isn’t it true that we, who mostly belong to that third group, the Gentiles – isn’t it true that we have also often despised the Supper to which we have been invited? The pastor is tempted simply to go through the motions, say the right words, do his job in a perfunctory way. I know that you, too, can be worried and distracted by many things, such that you do not regard with seriousness the Supper to which the Lord calls you. You too have bought pieces of ground, that must be cared for; you too have oxen, i.e., jobs, that can consume you; you too have spouses and families that clamor for your attention. And besides all that, there is is the ongoing temptation to presume that this world’s feasts, this world’s leisure, this world’s games and amusements, are more important. You have made your goals, your gossiping, your gluttony, of the highest importance, and disregarded the Lord’s call to leave everything and have Him alone for your God.

Do you come here as though you own the place, claiming your seats and letting your own words be most important? Do you consider it a routine and ordinary thing that you became a member of the Church by Holy Baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit? We are guests in the Lord’s House, not owners; privileged to be invited, but easily evicted if we treat our Lord’s gifts callously, carelessly, something to be fitted in when convenient with our other priorities.

So we must never forget that we are beggars invited by grace to the Rich Man’s home; we are starving men invited to a feast. And what is that feast? Nothing other than our Lord Jesus Himself, whose living body gives life to our dying bodies, and whose cleansing blood gives forgiveness to our lives of sin.

How deeply tragic, then, if we disregard that Feast, while searching for other food that cannot satisfy. Think of all the things you have pursued to give delight to your body. Did it last? Was it beneficial? Think of the possessions you decided you absolutely had to have. When you got them, did you not tire of them and desire some new thing? Think of the things that have filled your heart: lusts, desires for revenge, dreams of fame and glory - what can they achieve, other than to make a person selfish and bitter?

Today your King calls to you to leave aside your fixation on this world’s feasts, and fix your eyes on your heavenly home. Only what you receive here, in this Sacrament, endures into the life to come.

Little children, now is the last hour. You are being called to the dinner. The end of all things is at hand. Do not turn aside, but run with repentance to the altar and beg forgiveness. Be eager in your prayers for the coming of the Lord. Be ready for His coming by daily repentance. And serve the poor, maimed, lame, and blind – all those in need around you – with whatever gifts you have. For we are called to love not in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

Last Sunday, we heard about a rich man who would not invite a beggar to his feast. Today’s gospel shows us that we are poor, yet have God for a generous, philanthropic Rich Man. He has invited you to His Supper, to His home, to His forgiveness, to His love. Quit making excuses. Quit trying to serve two masters. Quit chasing this world’s riches. Quit condemning others and trying to be lord and master. Leave all this, and come, for all things are now ready, and even your excuses are forgiven in the Body and Blood of Jesus.