The Wedding Feast – The Noontimes

Revelation 19:5-10: Victory Song

Friday, November 3, 2023

Although we have spent time with this imagery in the past, certain verses made a strong impression on us regarding the two beasts that crawl out of the sea and the earth. Fascinated, the whole world followed after the beast . . . It performed great signs . . . It deceived the inhabitants of the earth with the signs it was allowed to perform . . . It forced all the people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave . . . so that no one could buy or sell except the one who had the stamped image of the beast’s name or the number that stood for the name. (13:3; 13-14; 16-17)

What is it about the shadow world and evil that draws us in? Do we think we might overcome these forces like a superhero? What is it about membership in a secret society that lures us? Is it a feeling of belonging and protection through dark arts we think we might manipulate?

Are we really so susceptible to the siren song of the temptation Adam and Eve first heard: You can be like gods? Why can we not see that the God who is Love and Goodness will never force us in any way, even if for our own good? What do we not understand about God that we insist on wanting things our way? Why can we not be faithful, true, honest, patient, and persevering? Is the reward of happiness not enough for us? What is it we truly seek?

We move through our weekend errands. Grocery shopping, haircut, Starbuck’s, bookstore and craft store. As we bump into friends, visit with children and grandchildren, our existential questions surface each time we pause to allow silence and prayer. Finally, sitting quietly with scripture to examine the book of Revelation, we find The Victory Song.

The wedding day of the Lord has come and the bride has made herself ready.

And we might sing : The wedding day of the Lord has come and we have made ourselves ready.

The angel tells us: Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.

When we fall down to worship, the angel replies: Don’t! I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brothers who bear witness to Jesus. Worship God. Witness to Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

We are creatures fashioned to worship our maker. There is a universal gift to come to this wedding feast as bride, adorned by the white gown of our honest deeds.

Do we think this wedding covenant is impossible? Is it too much to ask that we worship God only in the company of God’s creation? Are we waiting to be forced into worship as the adorers of the beast are forced?

Our good and loving God who is rich in kindness forces no one. This merciful and just God calls each and all. This adoring and adored God of all Creation wants to rejoice with us in the Victory Song. This patient God, for whom all things are possible, invites us to the feast as bride to his bridegroom. All we need bring is our humble and imperfect selves. Our God, the God who heals and who makes imperfect creatures whole, awaits our answer to his invitation. Let us sing out our own Amen, Alleluia!

Adapted from a Favorite from October 25, 2008.

Image from: https://www.pursuegod.org/warfare/

November 3, 2023

beasts, darkness, evil, God’s goodness, The Wedding Feast, Victory Song

Luke 5:27-32: The Great Banquet

Luke 5:27-32: The Great Banquet

Saturday, February 11, 2023

Jesus tells us many times that his kingdom is like a boundless wedding feast where all come together at the abundant table of God’s love. How can we see ourselves in this gathering where all will be equal, where the little divisions we set up no longer exist, when only unity and charity abide? Jesus calls the tax collector Levi to follow him and then he attends a party in Levi’s home.

Luke sets the stage: Everybody was there, tax men and other disreputable characters as guests at the dinner.

The scholars ask: What is he doing eating and drinking with crooks and sinners?

Jesus says: Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting outsiders, not insiders—an invitation to a changed life, changed inside and out.

God says: When you come to my feast you need only focus on your own transformation. If you want to join this banquet of love you must learn to speak its language and to live and act in its culture. Remember your Lenten practice and when you feel that you are asked to do the impossible, remember that with me all things are possible. Put out into deeper waters and shed your fear. No matter the elements or obstacles, my love is great than all of these.

We may be Levi, called to follow and called to celebrate. We may be the Pharisees, sticking to The Law and abiding with the details. No matter our identity, we must allow Jesus to enter into our hearts, and we must allow ourselves to serve as welcome and inviting guests at the wedding feast that is the kingdom of God.

We take care to remember our practice for the week: Rather than thinking, “This will not work,” let us say instead, “If you say so, Lord”.

Tomorrow, temptation.

Image and video link at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kqpyyUzmf0

February 11, 2023

God’s love, Levi, The Wedding Feast, unity

Matthew 21:33-46: When Vintage Time Arrives

Saturday, October 10, 2020

Matthew 21:33-46

When Vintage Time Arrives

In this parable we see wicked people kill the owner’s son so that they can take over the land. We humans tend to interpret our own actions in the best light in order that they suit our own ends. We explain our lack of unity by calling up examples that support our own version of a story. By our lack of generosity and honesty, we demonstrate our belief that God is not good enough or big enough to help all of us. Our own stinginess and need to control demonstrate a belief that God is limited in some way. When we create division, confusion and disunity we forget that God brings order out of chaos and good out of harm. And we also forget that Jesus calls each of us to do the same. Jesus shows us how to heal with a touch rather than ostracize with a look, yet we reject Jesus as the cornerstone when we refuse to see God’s presence in the least of us.

In this story the wicked men answer their own question in verse 41: [The landowner] will put those wretched men to death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper time. There is no doubt about the message here: Fruit at the proper time – this is what we called to bear.

God wishes nothing more than for all of us go to him in unity. So let us ask for forgiveness and forgive. Let us make reparations and accept a reparation being made. Let us heal and be healed. Let us pray our enemies into goodness so that all of us might bear fruit.

God wants to include all of us in the work of the vintage time. God calls each of us to our seat at the great feast. God calls the slow as well as the swift, the unfaithful as well as the faithful, the lame as well as the walking. God makes a Universal Call . . . What will be our response?

Dearest God, we know that you will continue to beckon, continue to wait, continue to love, and continue to unfold your plan. We know that you ask each of us to bear fruit in your time rather than our own. Send us your wisdom, perseverance and generosity. Send us your love and strength. Speak clearly to us so that we might more readily hear your words as the landowner who sends his messengers to us. Grant that we come forward willingly with the fruit of your harvest. Grant that we find the courage to help even our enemies so that they might rise and go to you. And grant that we be alert and ready when the vintage time arrives. Amen.

To reflect more on The Wedding Feast and The Wedding Garment, enter these phrases into the blog search bar and explore.

Adapted from a reflection written on September 13, 2007.

Image from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loire_Valley_(wine)

October 10, 2020

God’s generosity, God’s time, God’s Universal Call, The Parable of the Tenants, The Wedding Feast, the wicked, unity, vineyard

Tag: The Wedding Feast

Revelation 19:5-10: Victory Song

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Luke 5:27-32: The Great Banquet

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Matthew 21:33-46: When Vintage Time Arrives

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