In Matthew 22, Jesus tells us a parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a marriage feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast; but they would not come. Again, he sent other servants saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, Behold, I have made ready my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves are killed, and everything is ready; come to the marriage feast. But they made light of it and went off, one to his farm, another to his business…”
Christ has a banquet prepared for us, but so often we are too busy with our own affairs. We are consumed by distractions and do not listen to the voice that calls us to the feast.
We have recently been forced into a season where so many distractions have been stripped away. For maybe the first time ever, you cannot tell people you are busy and list off the countless things that your family is a part of. No longer are we running from soccer practice and dance class to music lessons and appointments, nor are we rushing home to eat supper, then leaving to watch a basketball game. We are now home together with very little on our calendar. This gives us time to reflect on who we truly are as a family.
What was it in our schedule that we took our identity in? What kept us so busy that we were not able to spend quality time together?
Busyness can no longer be the excuse that we use to skip out on family prayer and meals together or meaningful conversations with each other. Christ is calling us higher.
Shedding our false identities is a painful process. Christ is calling us to a marriage feast. He has so many incredible things that he wants to bestow on us and on our family. Let us take this opportunity to listen to his voice and find out who we truly are, and who God is calling our family to be.
So, now I ask, “How are you?” and in the silence of your schedule, I invite you to reflect on that question and answer truthfully. Become the family that pauses to listen to the voice of Christ.
