我们向人发出邀请，自然预料会收到他们的回覆的。事奉时其中一件最令我泄气的事，就是邀请了人参加某个活动但却收不到回覆，而更令人泄气的是收到的回覆根本就是不合情理的借口。
在这个比喻中，摆设筵席的人邀请了许多客人，可是，到了坐席的时候，客人提出各种借口来推辞。“我买了一块地，必须去看看。”“我买了新的牛，要去试一试。”“我才娶了妻，对不起，我不能来了。”我们可以为他们辩护，说这些借口也不是完全不合情理的，但它们毕竟仍然是借口。那摆设筵席的人有什么反应呢？“快出去邀请更多人来！到城里大街小巷领人来坐席。”
耶稣就是摆设筵席的人，祂邀请我们每一个人前赴祂天国的丰盛筵席，在任何地方的每一个人祂都邀请呢！你或许身在生命中不重要的小街陋巷，然而耶稣仍然找到你和邀请你，你只要到来便是了。
可惜我们当中很多人都习惯了利用借口来推辞。“我有别的事情要做。”“我有别的人要见。”又或者我们有比较个人的借口：“我不配去坐席，因为我的生命是一团糟。耶稣怎会请我去赴宴的呢？”
但耶稣希望你会来。请你来吧。
摆设筵席的主，今天求祢邀请我们赴祢的筵席，又赐我们一颗渴望赴会的心。阿们。
路加福音 14:15-24
15 同席的有一人听见这话，就对耶稣说：“在神国里吃饭的有福了！”
16 耶稣对他说：“有一人摆设大筵席，请了许多客。
17 到了坐席的时候，打发仆人去对所请的人说：‘请来吧，样样都齐备了。’
18 众人一口同音地推辞。头一个说：‘我买了一块地，必须去看看。请你准我辞了。’
19 又有一个说：‘我买了五对牛，要去试一试。请你准我辞了。’
20 又有一个说：‘我才娶了妻，所以不能去。’
21 那仆人回来，把这事都告诉了主人。家主就动怒，对仆人说：‘快出去到城里大街小巷，领那贫穷的、残废的、瞎眼的、瘸腿的来。’
22 仆人说：‘主啊，你所吩咐的已经办了，还有空座。’
23 主人对仆人说：‘你出去到路上和篱笆那里，勉强人进来，坐满我的屋子。
24 我告诉你们：先前所请的人，没有一个得尝我的筵席！’”
“A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests.” — Luke 14:16
When we send out an invitation, it’s natural to expect a response. One of my most frustrating experiences in ministry is when I get no response from someone after inviting them to an event. Even more frustrating is getting a response that’s a lame excuse.
In this parable the banquet-thrower invites many people to his banquet. But when the time comes for the feast, all sorts of excuses are given. “I have to go and check on some property I bought.” “I have to go and test-drive my new oxen.” “I just got married—sorry, I can’t come.” We could argue that some of these excuses don’t sound so bad, but they are excuses nonetheless. The response of the banquet-thrower? “Go out and invite more people! Go to the streets and alleys, the country lanes and roads, and urge the people to come.”
Jesus is a banquet-thrower. He is inviting each of us to his amazing feast in the kingdom of heaven. His invitation goes out to everyone, everywhere! You might find yourself in the alleys or country lanes of life, but Jesus will still seek you out with his invitation. All you have to do is come.
Many of us have grown used to making excuses, however. “I have something else to do.” “I have other people to see.” Or maybe our excuses are more personal: “I don’t feel worthy to go, because I’ve messed up. How could Jesus possibly want me?”
Jesus wants you. Please come.
Banquet-Thrower, invite us to your feast today, and create in us the desire to come. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
