We are called to reach out to all people…especially the marginalized.

(Listen to my song “Mercy Reigns” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Luke 14:13-14

“When you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

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This is about as counter-intuitive as you can get.

I dare say…very few of us think this way naturally.

You want me to go out and invite those people to my party? (And actually…I’m thinking the word “banquet” might mean a really fancy, expensive party at that!)

What will I have in common with them?

Will they be…well…you know…unsightly?

What will my neighbors think?

Jesus calls us to do what is not culturally acceptable.

He calls us to reach out to those at the bottom of society and invite them into our homes…not just write an occasional check to help them.

The people Jesus mentioned in today’s scripture verse were the outcasts of that time.

Who are today’s outcasts?

There are many…such as the poor, the immigrant, the refugee, the LGBTQ person.

Jesus calls us into relationship with all those who’ve been rejected.

And what happens when we do this?

If we truly do enter into relationship…our hearts will soften.

We will see that we share the bond of humanity.

And we will relate to the saying, “But for the grace of God go I.”

If we look closely…peering deeply into the eyes of one of these ‘least of these’…we just may detect it is Christ who is looking back at us.

It’s happened to me many times.

And I can tell you what will happen next: your heart and soul will be filled with joy.

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Listen to the song of the day “Mercy Reigns” on the Mercy Reigns album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!