I Was Invited! | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: I Was Invited! | Previous Challenge Entry
By Lois Eaton
03/03/24
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I was invited!

I was SO proud of myself. I had timed it perfectly.

It was the wedding of the year.

The High Priest’s daughter was marrying the son of a very rich Levite. AND I AM INVITED!

(Yes, I do not understand how a Levite could be that rich either, but he is.)

What is that you are saying? That everybody in town was invited? That is not true! Blind Bartholomew was not invited! And that crippled woman – I have it on good authority that she was not invited. Only special people – like me – were invited.

Anyway, I focussed ALL my thoughts and energy on working out how to get into the best room for the meal. The very thought of sitting down to eat with the High Priest! That would teach all those arrogant snobs just how important I am. I’m not arrogant like them. I knew I could not actually sit beside him. But I just wanted to be seen near him. It is what I deserve. I’m sure you agree.

I had to time it carefully. Too late, and there would not be any seats left in the main area. Too early and I might be asked to make room for someone else such as a family member. When I arrived most people were there, but not seated – they were milling around the courtyard chatting with friends. Perfect! Discreetly I made my way to the main room, and, very modestly, took a seat some distance from where the main party would sit. Soon all the seats were taken – except for the main party. But they were not long in coming. It was so exciting. Then the master of Ceremonies came up to me – to ME. Obviously he was impressed with me and going to compliment me. BUT HE ASKED ME TO MOVE TO A LESSER ROOM. I was shocked. I rose to my feet, furiously angry and prepared to make a scene. But everyone near me turned to look and they clearly were not going to support me. As you can imagine, I felt SOOOO humiliated. How could they treat someone as important as I like that?

I looked around for support but there was none. Shamefully, I had to leave and go to a lesser room. Anger burnt inside me. The event I had looked forward to with such excitement was ruined. RUINED! I just wanted to run away but that would have made things worse.

At last it was over, and I could go home. Such a relief to get away!
In the privacy of my own home, I turned on God in anger. Crazy, I now realise. I thought God owed it to me to make me important.

But God did not quail before me. Why had I ever thought He would? Instead, He told me what I needed to do. I didn’t like what He said, but there is something about the presence of God that cannot be denied. Deep inside I knew I needed to repent of my arrogance, and obey God. It hurts to be humbled, but somehow I knew that being right with God was more important than anything else.

So I obeyed. I threw a big party. But I did not invite the ones who would make me feel important. I invited blind Bartholomew, and the crippled lady. I invited the beggars, and the family whose house had recently burnt down. I searched the town and invited everybody that no-one else would invite. I could not invite the lepers, so I sent their colony a huge feast.

And you know what? It was WONDERFUL! I enjoyed it. I didn’t get to eat a lot as I was too busy feeding the blind and helping the handicapped. But everybody was so happy. That made me happy too. When did I last feel genuine happiness? I cannot remember. But the best part was when people went home (the strong helping the weak, and the seeing helping the blind) because as they left they thanked me so sincerely.

I wondered about this strange feeling that swept over me. Then I knew. I was loved and wanted. I had never felt truly loved before. It was wonderful. I started planning the next party. So fulfilling.

I prayed for a long time, thanking God for how He opened my eyes, and helped me become more like Him. That was all that mattered.

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