And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ Luke 14:17-20 '
It is interesting to ponder the fact that those who kept themselves away from this banquet - excused themselves. Note that the host did not excuse them, but they excused themselves. In so doing, they made themselves equal to, and in fact superior to, the host in that they decided what was a valid excuse for their refusal to receive the blessings of the host. Such excusing of self is old as sin. Were there not excuses on the lips of both Adam and Eve's to justify their refusal to attend the banquet of life that the Lord had prepared for them, so that they could attend the banquet offered them by the lie of Satan and consumed by their own hands.
It is said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. It can and ought be equally said that the way to heaven is barred by vain and empty excuses.
What excuse will stand before the face of God?
Imagine on the last day when the Lord asks why you refused to receive, refused to participate in the worship of the Lord, refused to receive the blessed absolution and sacrament as often as it was offered? How trivial will your excuses of fatigue, personalities, style of worship, etc appear to even yourself on that day?
Understand that no excuse will stand before the Lord today or on the last day. The only thing that will avail is forgiveness. With the Lord there is forgiveness for all sins, even the inexcusable.
Come to the banquet, everything is ready.
-pmwl / Hammersten
It is interesting to ponder the fact that those who kept themselves away from this banquet - excused themselves. Note that the host did not excuse them, but they excused themselves. In so doing, they made themselves equal to, and in fact superior to, the host in that they decided what was a valid excuse for their refusal to receive the blessings of the host. Such excusing of self is old as sin. Were there not excuses on the lips of both Adam and Eve's to justify their refusal to attend the banquet of life that the Lord had prepared for them, so that they could attend the banquet offered them by the lie of Satan and consumed by their own hands.
It is said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. It can and ought be equally said that the way to heaven is barred by vain and empty excuses.
What excuse will stand before the face of God?
Imagine on the last day when the Lord asks why you refused to receive, refused to participate in the worship of the Lord, refused to receive the blessed absolution and sacrament as often as it was offered? How trivial will your excuses of fatigue, personalities, style of worship, etc appear to even yourself on that day?
Understand that no excuse will stand before the Lord today or on the last day. The only thing that will avail is forgiveness. With the Lord there is forgiveness for all sins, even the inexcusable.
Come to the banquet, everything is ready.
-pmwl / Hammersten
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