The Invitation

Around the holidays, there were always plans to finish and tasks to manage. Along with the projects at work to complete before vacation, I also found repair work at home that I could no longer put off. Of course, there was plenty of holiday shopping to worry about, too.

But amid the holiday season chaos, the juggling of invitations was usually the most challenging. As much as our family thought about accepting more invitations, we opted to excuse ourselves more often than not.

In Luke 14, we hear about the man asking his servants to invite guests to his lavish banquet — which represents God's invitation to us. Sadly, we see that they all began to excuse themselves one by one. The invitees had other busy matters they considered more urgent. So, they decided to offer up a lot of excuses for not attending the banquet.

Like those people invited by the servants, our personal preferences and busyness can become our excuses, too. We overlook God's invitation to attend Sunday Service (online or in person), to spend extended time in prayer, to study the Sacred Scriptures. Our response often reveals more about our relationship with him than we know. Are the excuses we give God leading us away from him?

Hopefully, we find no real conflict in our hearts when we choose to turn down the invitations from others in favor of our Lord's requests to show up. The next time God invites us to spend time with him, let’s put God first with our Yes to the Almighty One.

Lord Jesus, help me to see your daily invitations as opportunities to grow in faith and to deepen my relationship with you. Never let me take your invites to spend time with you, Our Lord, for granted. Amen.

Throughout This Day: Seek to keep your heart and mind attentive to the various invitations Jesus is sending your way.