wedding banquet

Jonathan reminded us of the beauty of the ministry of the Caring Place where all people, regardless of background or reputation, eat together in the hall that is also used as the sanctuary of the corps - like guests at the feast the Lord has prepared for us.

Going back to Matthew Chapter 22 Jesus tells a story about a king preparing a wedding feast for his son, where eventually none of the invited guests show up but the hall still got filled with guests from the streets, good and bad alike.

They are not the rich ones that are coming to the Caring Place to eat just like they were the ones that rejected the king's invitation in Jesus' parable. They are the ones from the street corners, whoever we can find. And Jesus said, they are the ones really worthy of the honor of being part of his feast.

I believe that God blesses innercity ministry in a special way, which I find confirmed in Jesus saying that he came to "call sinners, not those who think they are already good enough." And I find more people being open to Jesus call on their lives among street people, addicts and criminals - outcasts of society -, than among our self-confident, wealthy, suburban society.

That's why I want to continue to "go out to the street corners and invite everyone I see", so that they may accept the invitation and be part of the big, final wedding feast of Jesus and his bride, all believers, at the end of the world in heaven!