Send Out the Invitations

"Send Out the Invitations"
a condensed version of the sermon delivered by Rev. Kirk Moore on Sunday, September 2, 2007 at Union Congregational Church in Somonauk, Illinois.

PODCAST of "Send Out the Invitations"

This Morning's Scripture reading is:
Luke 14:1, 7-14

Have you ever seen a melodrama? Have you ever been a part of one? A couple of week’s ago Josh gave us his interpretation of a melodrama to introduce the heroes during the children’s message. Melodramas usually, unlike Josh’s version, use music to heighten the tension or mood or to describe a character. Even the name comes from combining "melody" with "drama." For the most part, a melodrama has a set plotline – There’s a villain who threatens someone and a hero who defeats the villain and rescues the one threatened. The 1960’s television show "Batman" (one of my favorites, incidentally) is a great example of a silly melodrama. I think that CSI is a good example of a very recent -- though without someone to rescue – unless "justice" is what is being threatened -- example of melodrama on TV. Of course, I think the most fun melodramas in recent years have come from Rocky and Bullwinkle and Boris and Natasha.

What would it sound like if the parable of the wedding banquet from Luke 14:1, 7-14 wad presented in a melodramatic style?

It’s time, everyone, for a spontaneous melodrama. It won’t follow all the melodrama rules, but we certainly can give it a try. For our spontaneous melodrama we’ll need someone music. I just happen to have a "spontaneous soundtrack:" right here. We’ll also need someone to do the voice of our hero. We’ll need someone to portray a sort of villain. We’ll also need several people to portray banquet guests. And we need an announcer.

(Invite and give instructions to actors.)

Just a little Greek vocabulary before we begin: Luke 14:1 says that Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal. "Leader of the Pharisees" comes from the Greek word ARCHON – or "arch-pharisee." It’s that word that inspired this completely melodramatic direction. The word translated as "guests" in Luke 14:7 is "kaleo" and it means something like "the chosen ones."

Here we go!

(Fade up "heroic beginning" - type music)

Announcer: There was once a time when our hero, Jesus, went to the home of the ARCH-Pharisee (music switches to loud, foreboding music) for a meal on the Sabbath. The ARCH-Pharisee (foreboding music) and the others there were watching Jesus closely – just to see what kind of mistake he might make. (music fades)

(Loud "competition-friendly" music begins)

Announcer: Everyone seemed to be pushing and shoving and clawing their way to be closest to the most important of these chosen ones. (music fades)

Announcer: When our hero, Jesus (heroic music begins) noticed all the competition, he started to tell a story. (music fades)

("Story time"- type music begins)

Jesus: If you go to a wedding reception, be careful not to sit in the best seat. It’s possible you’ll have to move for someone more important and then you’ll have to sit right by the kitchen. (foreboding music comes in quickly and then fades quickly) Instead, start at the table by the kitchen and let the host invite you to sit at a better table. You see, if you try to make yourself look important, you’ll look unimportant. But it you remember to be humble, you’ll earn respect. (music fades)

Announcer: Then Jesus (heroic music begins) looked at the host of the meal and offered this advice:

Jesus: The next time you host a meal, don’t invite all your friends and all the important people. Instead, invite the people with no money, the people who can’t stand up without help, the people who can’t walk at all – and those who can’t see. Invite the people who work hard, but still don’t seem to ever have enough to live. Invite the people you’d just as soon ignore. Invite the people who everyone else thinks is unimportant.

Announcer: Don’t let this story end – it’s time to send out the invitations!

(Party-type music fades up and then out.)

Send out the invitations

Send them out to who?

(Who’s on first? I don’t know -- third base!)

I just said that out loud, didn’t I? I know some of you were thinking it, though.

Send out the invitations!

Send them out to people with big and small houses!
Send them out to people with no houses!
Send them out to the poor and the rich!
Send them out to the young and the old!
Send them out to the Democrats and the Republicans!
Send them out to the right and the left!
Send them out to the sad and the happy!
Send them out to believers and non-believers!
Send them out to every person and every group – especially the ones you think "well, not them, of course."
Send them out to everyone!

Is that what today’s Bible reading teaches? Doesn’t it say at the end, "But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind?"

It absolutely does – but the intent of the parable isn’t to exclude people – the intention of the parable is to teach humility and hospitality.

Don’t think so highly of yourselves that you think you’re better than others are.
Don’t show hospitality to others just to get something back.

God’s hospitality – God’s extravagant welcome – isn’t about getting something back – it’s about offering God’s unconditional love to everyone. It’s about showing a radical invitation and an extravagant welcome to everyone.

This parable can teach us and challenge us to continually reach out to all we meet with love. It can teach us and challenge us to take a bold step and invite a friend to church.

So . . . What’s the challenge for this week?

Send out the invitations!