Can you imagine a world in which everyone was exactly the same? It's impossible - and it would be very boring! Everyone is so different in their personalities, gifts, strengths, and weaknesses - and that is the way God intended it. We should respect that and not try to make others conform to our own ideas. But on a deeper level we are united, especially in a spiritually based Christian community. We are all created in the image and likeness of God - and God is love. Paul insists that the mark of those who are truly living in the body of Christ is a life of love, humility, generosity, kindness, and respect for others. In a world so torn by divisions and violence we can make a real positive contribution by resolving to show these qualities in our own life.

We don't like to be taken for granted and neither does the Lord. Sometimes religious folks can be quite careless and lazy about the quality of their relationship with God. In the story, the king sends invitations to a lavish banquet but everyone has excuses not to come. 'I'm too busy' is not an option. As the story insists, no one owns God and God will extend an invitation to anyone who is eager and willing to respond. Each day God invites us to a banquet; let us never be too busy.