October 11th

“Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad, so the wedding hall was filled with guests.” Matthew 22:8-9

it’s a party—
invitations to folks who
never thought they’d get one.
the doors are wide open,
the table groans with food.
the weary find room,
the wounded, the wandering,
even the party crashers
are made welcome.
but we sit at home trying to decide—
our Sunday best pretensions,
our designer label righteousness,
that coat of many excuses
we slip into when love calls to us?
but the garment God offers
is woven with mercy and hope,
stitched with justice,
hemmed with humility—
that sort of cloth
Jesus was likely
to wrap around the forgotten,
drape over a stranger,
worn in even place longing
for justice to arrive.
so dress us for the feast, O God.
strip away our indifference.
wrap us in your grace.
then send us from your feast
wearing what we have received—
a love which fits every neighbor,
the welcome which is always in style.

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman