A Reception To Remember

Friends in Christ,

1. It is the season of weddings! Last Sunday I substituted at Fairlawn Lutheran for Pastor Gau because his son was married on Saturday, and today I am with you as Pastor Tritten celebrates marriage for his son. Congratulations to both families – and, to you and your family if you have been a guest at a recent wedding.

Weddings are very special times. The Knot, a website about weddings, reports that the average cost of a wedding in Ohio in 2022 was $ 26,000 for the service and reception; New Jersey was the most expensive state with an average cost of $ 51,000 while Utah was the least expensive state with an average cost of $ 16,000. Of course, as CNBC reported, Prince Harry and Megan Markle’s wedding cost $ 42.8 million.

Regardless of the place or people, weddings are costly … in more ways than money! Lillyann Van Almelo has shared that when she accompanied her son and his fiancé to meet with their Pastor to begin planning their wedding, the Pastor asked several questions that seemed routine and easy to answer – until the Pastor asked the bride and groom, “Are you entering this marriage at your own will?" Lillyann said her son immediately turned to look at his finance for help and she helped. She directed: say, “Yes.” And, he did.

2. Several days before His crucifixion, just after entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, Jesus was surrounded by a crowd of people; some to listen in faith, others to find fault. In response, He told several pointed parables that were intended to challenge those who rejected Him and the Holy Spirit’s call to faith. Among the parables is the one in our Gospel – a wedding reception gone wrong. Despite the lavish, expensive, gracious setting, many declined to attend. Chairs empty, food untouched.

Why would someone decline to attend a wedding and reception? Bride Magazine reports on its website that some decline because of the cost involved, especially for a destination wedding or expected expensive gifts they cannot afford to buy; others decline because of scheduling conflicts – they have something equally as important, perhaps even more important the same day as the ceremony; and, still others decline to attend because of the emotion weight involved – seeing a former spouse; feeling lonely being a single. Regardless of the reason, a gracious invitation is refused and the lavish reception is missed.

Jesus very much wanted the crowd – the precious souls - to hear and heed the gracious invitation of God to respond in faith to His call into the kingdom of grace. As Scripture reminds us numerous times, “The Lord is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” God loves the world!

But, not all return His love.

And, that brings dire consequences, just as Jesus said at the conclusion of His story, “Many are called, but few are chosen. … not all who say to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of God, but only those who do the will of My Father in heaven.”

3. So, the question is: how do we respond to God’s gracious call in a way that insures our place at the heavenly banquet? The text gives us several keys that we want to know and heed: (1) recognize what is being offered – forgiveness, faith, hope, life – the very best that God has for us. Of inestimable value! (2) Think carefully about your priorities. Being with God? Or, being too busy with business, fun, and other things? And, (3) when invited, come dressed, not in the most fashioned styles of the day, but clothes with humility, true, sincerity, faith – the white robe of someone who has been baptized and named for the kingdom.

What Jesus has done for us, moves us to respond with our very best. Our time, our prayers, our works, our gifts, our lives, our all. St. Paul wrote it this way to the Christians in Rome, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.” His love, our response.

4. When we come to His altar today, we will receive from Him the body and blood of Christ for the forgiveness of sins, the strengthening of our faith, and the renewal of our fellowship. His best for us. And, today, we, in turn, give Him our offerings and our promised intentions to honor Him and His ministry with our time, talent and treasure. How blessed we are to have this opportunity!

5. Let’s end with this. On his birthday, a well-meaning, kind husband rounded up the six children, put them in the minivan, and was driving them to soccer practice, dance lessons, 4H, church youth activities and more. As you know only too well, the children were yelling, poking, and annoying each other – causing the father to question being married and having any children! After numerous repeated and failed efforts to quiet the brood, the father said with a soft, but stern voice, “Kids, if you will behave and be kind to each other, that would be a very nice birthday present for me.” … maybe ... the ten-year-old immediately shot back, “Too late, Dad, Mom already got our gift for you!