Once upon a time, there was a wealthy man who decided to throw a great banquet. He invited all of his friends and family, as well as many other prominent people in the community. The invitations were sent out, and the man eagerly awaited the arrival of his guests.
However, as the day of the banquet approached, the man began to receive excuses from some of his guests. One man said he had just bought a new piece of land and needed to inspect it. Another said he had just gotten married and couldn’t come. Still, another said he had just bought some oxen and needed to test them out.
The man was disappointed by these excuses, but he didn’t let it get him down. Instead, he sent his servants out to invite everyone they could find: the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame. The servants went out into the streets and brought in as many people as they could find, and the man’s house was filled with guests.
As the banquet got underway, the man looked around at his guests and was pleased. They were all enjoying themselves, eating and drinking and talking together. But then he noticed one man who was sitting by himself, looking sad and lonely. The man went over to him and asked him why he wasn’t joining in the festivities.
The man replied, "I don’t belong here. I’m not like these people. I’m just a poor beggar."
But the man wouldn’t hear of it. He said to the man, "My friend, you are exactly who I invited here. You are just as important as anyone else at this table. Please, join us and enjoy the feast."
And so, the man joined the others at the table and had a wonderful time. And the man who had thrown the banquet was happy, knowing that he had given joy to those who had previously been overlooked.
As Luke 14:13-14 states, "But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just."