The Invitation

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come," And let everyone who hears say,
"Come." And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes
take the water of life as a gift. -- Rev. 22:17, NRSV.
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Doesn't everyone like to be invited to a birthday party, a graduation
celebration, a wedding, an anniversary, or other special occasion?
Personally, I may not want to go to every event to which I'm invited,
but I always feel honored whenever I get an invitation to a wedding. I
think weddings are some of the most beautiful and joyous gatherings.
Some other happy occasions are inaugural celebrations of different
kinds.

Two weeks before the forty-third president of the United States was
inaugurated, my older daughter, Lynda, received an invitation to attend
the president's inauguration. When she told me about the invitation, I
was very excited. Who would spurn such an invitation? When I asked her
if she was going, she said she wasn't. She has a 4-month-old baby, and
she didn't have enough money to donate to the political party inviting
her. All the time I had thought it was free, as long as one was
invited. After all, she had an invitation to the inaugural ball. She
said that she needed to give a donation of at least $5,000.

Reading the Word, I pondered seriously on God's invitation: "The Spirit
and the bride say, ‘Come.' And let everyone who hears say, ‘Come.' And
let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water
of life as a gift."

The Lord's invitation is offered freely to all-to everyone, no matter
what her station in life. She doesn't need to pay a contribution of
$5,000. True, a ticket is necessary to enter the banquet hall, but that
entry ticket has already been paid for by our Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ. We have only to wear the robe of righteousness He offers to
each. Wearing Christ's righteousness will give us abundant entry to the
city where the inauguration of the reign of the King of kings and the
Lord of lords will be celebrated. Oh, what a grand celebration that
will be!

Dear Lord, thank You for paying the way for me to be in the grandest
inauguration ever-of Your reign when You shall claim Your own. Amen.

-- Ofelia A. Pangan