Focus

Stop and thank God for being present with you today. Ask for God’s guidance as you hear God’s voice through scripture and the writer.

---

Read

Revelation 19:9-10 (NRSV)

And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.” Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your comrades who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

---

Reflect

Clarissa, who lived across the street, held a dim view of us because my mom had been divorced. In our first conversation, Clarissa pointed out that my mom was an adulteress. As a new kid in a strange town, I was hungry for friends and preferred Clarissa’s condemnation to having no one to whom I could talk. After a few front-yard conversations, she invited me over to her house. I was thrilled! I soon discovered that she’d invited me over to help her clean her room for her birthday party. After the chore, I was informed that I was not invited to the actual party…you know…I was the daughter of an adulteress and all. [sigh]

In the above scripture passage, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb” and many other scriptures assure me that my mom and I—and even Condemnation Clarissa—are ALL invited to this most important party. The Lamb of God invites us all to gather together in a joyful union of the Redeemer and the redeemed. That eternal rejoicing is to come, but we can catch a glimpse of it as we anticipate the joyful Easter celebration near at hand.

---

Pray

Inclusive God, thank you for extending your invitation to all of your creation. Help us to accept, embrace, and invite others to feel the open arms of your grace. Amen.

Go with God.