“Jesus responded by telling more stories.  “God’s kingdom,” He said, “is like a king who threw a wedding banquet for his son.  He sent out servants to call in all the invited guests.  And they wouldn’t come.””  In the end, all were invited.  Not all came.

Through the years, we’ve been invited to many functions.  Some were “mandatory formations.”  Many of the others we chose to attend.  Jesus was making many points through His story, but one point is clear.  All were invited.  Personally invited.  It would not be acceptable to speculate on the king’s motive.  Jesus said it was a story.  But God’s kingdom remains as an open invitation, through the centuries, down to our time.  “But to all who did receive Him,” trust His own Son to provide necessary credentials for holy acceptance, “He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in Him name.”

Father, thank You for Your loving kindness, tender, faithful to Your recorded promises, desiring all to accept Your invitation for life, abundant and eternal; that You would secure us as Your children.  I receive Your invitation and adoption.  Unworthy but invited, Jesus, I come.

Matthew 22:1-3, John 1:12, Lamentation 3:22-23, 2 Peter 3:9, John 10:10, Romans 5:8, Ephesians 1:3 MSG/CSB