Banquet.... Invitation?

"When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them a parable:" (Luke 14:7)

When you think of banquet what do you think of?  A wedding banquet?  An awards banquet?  The food?  How much food there is?  Who else is at the banquet?  Who would you invite to a banquet?  Who would you invite to eat with you?  Do you see the person standing by themselves?  Have you ever asked why someone disappears at the opening of the last hymn every Sunday?
 
Today's Scripture is about living our faith and how God helps us to do so.  In Jeremiah we read God will "put my words in your mouth."  (Jeremiah 1:9)  In Hebrews we are reminded Jesus is "our helper" (13:6) and​ the same "yesterday, today and forever." (13:8)  The Gospe reading is Jesus being invited to dinner at "the house of a prominent Pharisee."  (Luke 14:1)  He is watching where people are sitting at the table (14:7) when he suggests, through a story, there is a different way we could be doing things.   Instead of paying attention to where WE are sitting we should be paying attention to inviting all to the table.

So..... do you see the person all by themselves?  Do you invite the single parent?  Do you invite the person whose spouse isn't with them - for whatever reason?  As Caregivers, we are making sure "our" person(s) is taken care of but do we see the others?  Who is God laying on your heart to make sure they are included in the banquet?  Something to think about.........