When I was a little girl, one of the most exciting things was to receive an invitation in the mail. It meant that someone thought I was special enough to be included. Even now as an adult, I smile when I see that small, white envelope.
Birthdays, weddings, reunions, births, baptisms - all celebrate some aspect of life. To be invited is to be made to feel special, that your presence is important and somehow needed to enrich the celebration and complete the whole.
What would happen if when you received an invitation, you just threw it away? Or if you opened it and argued that you were too busy to attend? What if you decided to attend, but just stood there, not participating? How would that affect you? How would that affect the group? How would that make the one who invited you feel?
When all who are invited do not respond, something is somehow lost to the group dynamic. Your part, your place is empty. It is easy to see how, in a natural sense, our actions and decisions would play out. But how about in the spiritual sense? What does it mean when it is God who is doing the inviting? When it is the Lord Almighty, your heavenly Father who desires your fellowship?
Feasting with God involves ingesting all that He has to offer on an on-going daily basis; it is a give and take meeting, continuous and vital, which is alive with exchange and possibility.
This story, presented in a fairy tale format, tells the story of our sometimes complex humanity in a simple, straight-forward way. The characters universalize the struggle and help us see ourselves in light of the majesty of God’s invitation to dine with Him.
The King of Kings has invited all to His table. Come, feast and be filled.
The Invitation
There once was a land where common folk lived. They did the usual things that most common folk did and lived the usual life that their parents and grandparents before them had lived. They planted their gardens, built their houses, raised their children and baked their bread.
Every day, messengers of the King would travel throughout the land and hand out invitations to anyone they would meet. The invitation was in a beautiful, yet simple gold-lined envelope and was tied with a narrow, red ribbon. It read:
Hear ye. Hear ye.
All are invited to the Great Feast. Come and be filled.
With love,
The King of Kings
Some who received the invitations didn’t even bother to open them:
“I haven’t got time to read this. I have to rebuild my south wall today and tend to my fields” said a farmer.
“You’re busy? My whole roof needs to be repaired” said another. “Doesn’t the King know how bad the storms have been this year?”
“What about me? I have a large family to take care of” added a tired-looking woman. “I have wash to do, cleaning to finish, and children to tend to.”
So many went about their daily business and simply discarded the sealed invitations.
Others took the time to open the invitation and read it:
“Gee, a feast” said a tall, thin tailor. “But I just ate, and I don’t feel very hungry right now. Why bother to go all that way if I don’t feel hungry?”
“I agree,” said his friend. “And why go all that way if you don’t need to? I just spent the last three hours baking so we would have something to eat. We don’t need the King to feed us; we can feed ourselves.”
So seeing no need to go, the tailor and his friend threw the opened invitations away. Still others, after reading the letters, had different complaints:
“I don’t think I want to go to a feast that the King puts on” said the town recorder.
“Why not?” asked her sister.
“Well, I heard that he forces his subjects to eat strange foods and won’t let them leave if they want to.”
“I’ve even heard that there isn’t really a feast at all” insisted the tax collector. It’s just a way for the King to get people into the castle so he can make slaves of them forever.”
“Well, that settles it. I’m not going either” chimed in another who overheard their mumblings. “I already have to slave all day in the fields for my master. I don’t need to trade one demanding boss for another.”
So after spending an hour complaining about the King and his subjects, they ripped up their invitations, threw them on the ground, and grumbled their way through the rest of the day.
Still there were those who, after opening and reading the notes, decided to see for themselves just what the King and the feast were all about. So later that day, a strange assortment of lawyers, farmers, housewives, doctors, merchants, and servants all began their journey to the Great Feast.
As they came upon the palace, they noticed many different types of people going in and coming out of the castle’s large scarlet-colored doors. They also noticed a group of nicely dressed people standing around outside talking among themselves.
As they approached, they stopped to listen:
“I can’t believe he wanted us to eat that stuff. I’ve never seen anything like that before” huffed a stuffy-looking governor.
“Me neither” grumbled the chancellor. “And did you see the kind of people he wanted us to sit with? They were common, dirty, and poor.”
“And can you believe who he was sitting next to?”
“Well, if he expects us to lower ourselves, he’s mistaken. Let’s go.”
As they all started to leave, one high-looking official turned to the group who had just arrived and said, “And if you had any class, you would turn right around now and leave with us, too.”
In the end, a few of the doctors, merchants, housewives and servants were persuaded to follow the well dressed, seemingly important group of lawmakers back the way they came.
The others who were left were determined to make up their own minds. As they slowly walked up to the castle’s doors, two of the women decided to sneak up and look in the windows before they actually agreed to enter.
“I just want to take a peek before I go in” said the older woman.
“Me, too” agreed her sister.
So the two tip-toed up to one of the large windows and looked in. They saw a beautiful wooden table filled with all kinds of unusual foods. Some of the people seemed to be really enjoying themselves, eating and laughing with the King. Others seemed less enthusiastic, nibbling and smelling everything before they tasted it. Still others just sat there, watching and whispering about the other guests at the table.
The two sisters could see and smell the food through the open window. They could hear the laughter and parts of the conversations. They could even describe what the palace looked like, what the King was wearing, and how he interacted with his guests. But they also noticed that every so often a guest would get up and switch places with one of the servers and wait on the tables. Being servants their whole lives, the women were not so sure they liked this arrangement.
When they rejoined the group, who by the way were still deciding who would knock on the door first, they said:
“We decided that we’ve seen enough. We’re not ready to actually go in and eat with the King. Maybe another time.”
Somewhat relieved, they went away, never personally experiencing the feast for themselves. Once back home, many of the townspeople gathered around the women and wanted to know about the King and the palace. All this attention made the servants feel important, so they talked about how the food looked and smelled, how the guests talked and acted, even what the inside of the castle had looked like. Unfortunately, when they ran out of stories and noticed the people around them losing interest, they started to make things up.
“And when one of the old servers dropped a pure gold tray on the floor, the King jumped up from his throne and shouted for his guards!” the older woman exclaimed.
“And then he had the servant thrown into the dungeon” added her sister. “Then he threw away the key!” This brought a renewed round of “Oohs” and “Ahhs” from the crowd. The two sisters became not only instant celebrities, but they became instant authorities on the affairs of the King.
But because they never told anyone that they had not actually been inside the feast and eaten the food and personally met the King, no one ever knew that what the servants were telling them was only an exaggerated tale.
Back at the castle, the small group who were left finally decided to knock on the door together. When the large doors opened, they were greeted by two servers whose enthusiasm and friendliness made them feel at ease.
“Welcome! We are so glad you decided to dine with us” said one of the servers as the small group was ushered in. “Come and join the feast.”
One of the first things they noticed as they entered the hall was the wide variety of people who had been invited. There were young children, old people, wealthy people, poor people, important people and common people - all sitting and eating together. As they sat down at the long, beautiful table, they noticed at once that the food was very unusual. Even though it slightly resembled the food that grew in the valley where they lived, it was larger and more colorful than what they had ever seen.
A farmer, one of the more hesitant members of the newly-arrived group, spent a few minutes looking at the unfamiliar food. I’ve never seen anything like this before, he thought. What if I don’t like it? What if I start to eat it and the King sees I don’t like it? What if he gets insulted and has me put in the dungeon? What if I don’t like the other guests? What if I get stuck serving? What if I have to work in the King’s garden besides my own? What if . . . .
The fearful farmer had “what if’d” himself right out of his seat and out of the door. He snuck away quietly, thinking he had avoided being noticed by anyone, especially by the King. But the King did notice, and for a time, a gentle sadness came over his face.
The store clerk, who had witnessed his friend’s departure, started looking around at the faces of some of the other guests. He thought to himself: Those people over there seem to be enjoying themselves. They don’t seem to be afraid, although I don’t think I’ve seen them eat anything yet. They seem like nice people, though. I think I’ll stay and visit with them for a while. I’m not very hungry right now, so I don’t think I’ll actually eat today. That way, I won’t owe the King anything.
So the clerk stayed for the afternoon, talking and laughing with a small group who had also decided to just stay for the company and the conversation. When they finally left to go home, they patted each other on the backs, parted ways and agreed they must do this again next week.
However, there was one young girl, an apprentice to a dressmaker, who had watched how the others from her town had behaved. She had listened to their worries and fears on the way to the castle and had seen some of them refuse to enter in. She had even watched the farmer leave and the clerk visit.
The girl also looked at the strange food and the faces of those around her. But as she looked around the room, her gaze met the King’s. The great and mighty King had been watching everything and was now watching her.
At first, she was afraid because of what she had heard about the King from the townspeople.
“Why are you not eating?” said a gentle voice from behind. The young girl turned around to see the King’s Son standing next to her.
“I’m a little afraid to eat” she shyly admitted. “I’ve heard so many things about the King and his feasts. I don’t know what to believe.”
“Well, what do you want to know? I am his Son and can not only tell you about him, but I can show you his heart as well.” The Son’s voice was calm and gentle as he spoke of the King, the invitation, and the feast.
After a while he asked, “Do you think you’d like to eat with us now?”
The girl hesitated and looked around at those seated at the table. The Son immediately noticed her fears and said, “Do you see that thin, tired-looking man over there? He has been coming to this feast for years now but is afraid to swallow the food. He puts it in his mouth and chews it, but he never allows it to become part of him. He just spits it into his napkin when he thinks no one is looking.”
“But why?”
“Because he is already full when he comes. There isn’t room inside him for the King’s food.”
“Then why is he so thin?”
“Because the food he eats does not nourish him. It cannot give him what he needs to grow strong and healthy.
“Do you see that old woman over there?”
The young girl noticed a saggy-looking woman whose face was drawn into a tense scowl.
“She comes to the feast just a few times a year and will only eat from one of the dessert trays. She says it is enough, but as you can see, she has no strength and has grown anxious, tired, and somewhat judgmental. You see in order to really benefit from and enjoy the feast, you must be willing to be nourished daily by all the food that the King offers. Now look over there by the door. Do you see that woman? She has been a server here for a very long time. When she first came, she was a lot like you - a little scared, but truly hungry. And now, as she eats and sits in the King’s presence, she becomes strong enough to serve others.”
“She seems really happy.”
“She has found true contentment. And how about you? Will you eat, too?”
The King’s Son kneeled down next to her and held out his open hand. She looked down and saw a small, tear-shaped fruit appear.
“This is for you. It comes from the garden of my deepest love. It cost all I had to grow it for you, and I give it freely.”
The simple young girl slowly took the fruit and hesitated. She looked up into the Son’s eyes and then at the face of the King who was now looking intently at her. The words that the Son spoke pierced her heart, removing every doubt and fear. Peace surrounded her like a sweet embrace as she said, “I’m truly not afraid anymore. I have seen for myself what you and your Father are like, and I accept this gift from your hand.”
She closed her eyes and put the small crimson fruit into her mouth. As she chewed and swallowed it, a sweet warmness flowed within her. She also, for the first time, noticed that a gentle breeze was blowing throughout the hall. The apprentice breathed in the soothing air like a breath and was immediately filled with a calm assurance. Opening her eyes, she was at once embraced by the Son and the King.
There was great rejoicing in the hall that day as the others stopped dining and cheered and clapped and welcomed her officially to the Feast of the King.
The young apprentice went back to her town, telling everyone the truth about the King, his invitation, and his feast.
She returned daily to be fed and nourished and soon took her place among the other joyful servers. And because of her testimony, many others joined her at the table of the King.
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