The wedding of the year was coming and the whole town was buzzing about it … -- Image by Grupo Gaby from Pixabay
A Modern Retelling of "The Great Banquet"
In Choteau, everyone knew the wedding of the year was coming. Mayor Thompson's daughter was marrying a local rancher's son, and the whole town was buzzing about it. The invitations were fancy — embossed envelopes, gold lettering, and RSVP cards with tiny checkboxes.
The Mayor's daughter and the rancher's son had decided to have a small wedding at the ranch, only for the family. They also agreed that the reception was to be a party with the best of the best invited.
The menu was legendary: lobster flown in from Maine, fresh-cut prime rib from the ranch, champagne fountains, and a dessert table rumored to include a twelve-layer chocolate cake. The band, one of the best country bands around, was booked. The venue was tastefully decorated, with a touch of "Cowboy". The RSVP list was full.
The big day came. The wedding went on flawlessly. But, little by little that day… people flaked.
One by one, the excuses rolled in.
"I'd love to come, but I just bought a new truck and need to break it in with a road trip."
"Sorry, I promised my cat I'd stay home and bond with her."
"I'm catching up on a Netflix series and can't stop now."
"I've got this thing… You know… with my sourdough starter."
By the time the reception started, the banquet hall was embarrassingly empty. The lobster sat steaming, untouched. The champagne fountains burbled with no one to toast. The bride looked ready to cry.
The father of the bride — never one to waste food — told his staff: "Forget it. Go out on Main Street. Invite anyone you find." The ranch hands, part of the staff, were unsure about doing what the mayor suggested. The rancher looked at them, "You too! The mayor is right, invite everyone."
So, they did.
Within an hour, the banquet hall was filled with an oddball mix of guests: ranch workers in chaps, dusty boots, and spurs, teenagers still holding their skateboards, a busload of tourists who had been wandering the historic district, and even Earl, the town mechanic, who smelled faintly of motor oil but danced like nobody cared.
They piled their plates high with lobster and prime rib, toasted with champagne, and cheered so loudly the bride finally laughed. The feast meant for the polished and proper ended up being the party of the year, with people no one expected.
People were sitting at the tables, talking. Some were dancing. The night was going well. The band, recognizing that oddball mix of people, played all genres of music. The bride, being the fun-loving, carefree type, wanted everyone to dance. She approached the band with a request. They looked at her with a questionable look, then laughed and said, "Ohh, heck yeah!" They barely got through the first line of the Cupid Shuffle and everyone was dancing, going… "to the right, to the right…"
And as for the original guests? You know, the one hugging his cat, the one still watching Netflix, the one staring at the sourdough starter, and the others sat at home, scrolling social media, watching photos of the best wedding they never attended.
Based on Luke 14:15-24
Synopsis:
In the parable of the great banquet, Jesus tells of a feast where the guests make excuses and miss out, while outsiders and strangers end up enjoying the celebration. The lesson is clear: God's invitation is open to all, but those too distracted or self-important to accept it miss the joy of the kingdom.
Tap to read the actual bible passage:
The Parable of the Great Banquet
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