Introduction

Jesus tells another story, again designed to have a go at those who ought to know better, but above all to reflect God’s generous invitation sent out to all people. In our Bible passages and in the news this week, we consider what it is to welcome everyone to the party

Context – Welcome to the party

• Britain joins the ‘party’ after an emergency session of Parliament committed RAF jets to bombing ISIS. We join other countries in returning to war in the Middle East. 
• We are offered a party favour in the form of David Cameron’s tax giveaway which will affect 30 million guests, announced at the Conservative Party (conference) in Birmingham last week. 
• The most controversial new guest on this year’s Formula One calender has to be Russia. This weekend sees the first Russian Grand Prix for one hundred years. It will be held on the site of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. These are delicate times for Russia’s relationships with its guests. Will Vladimir Putin’s birthday party celebrations and gift of his ‘12 Labours’ make matters worse?
• Sir Michael Gambon and Imelda Staunton have been announced to be among the cast of the new Paddington Bear film this week. The not insubstantial guest list already included Jim Broadbent, Peter Capaldi, Hugh Bonneville, Julie Walters and Nicole Kidman. Ben Whishaw will provide the voice for Michael Bond’s lovably innocent illegal immigrant in the new film which is set for release in November. 

Reflection

Paddington Bear was named after the London train station where he was found by the Brown family, who invited him to share their home and their lives, and found themselves both challenged and enriched for doing so. For generations of children Michael Bond’s tales about a small bear from Darkest Peru, who stowed away in a ship’s lifeboat bound for England, has caused many to excitedly laugh along with his extraordinary adventures in the midst of ordinary everyday experiences. Some of us may remember the story-tape recordings gorgeously voiced by Bernard Cribbins, or more recently by Stephen Fry. Some will look back fondly at the animated television series narrated by Sir Michael Hordern.

Whichever version of the stories you remember, or prefer, this latest arrival at the storytelling party, introducing Paddington to the silver screen has a lot to live up to. Like the improperly dressed late arrival in Jesus’ parable, the new film might not be welcomed at everyone’s table. Hopefully, though, this telling will succeed in introducing one of our best childhood role-models to a new generation, as well as delighting the older ones. Paddington Bear’s character is gifted with a lovely sense of wide-eyed innocence, too often prone to take things literally, but accompanied by an unshakably strong sense of justice and kindness that would see him welcome anyone to his party – even his mean next door neighbour, Mr Curry!

Paddington’s approach to life and behaviour toward others would sit well with Paul’s exhortations in Philippians 4.1-9. And whilst Jesus' parable may not directly portray the character of God, but of the kingdom of heaven as an opportunity not to be missed, both Paul and Jesus reflect on the generosity of God to include all those who would welcome such an invitation.

In agreeing to join the bombing campaign in the Middle East, our government might seem in the eyes of some to be a late arrival at the party, but surely this has not been through any sense of indifference or of making excuses, like those guests originally invited to the king’s wedding feast for his son. Any reluctance has surely been due to whether outside involvement in another war in Iraq, or the surrounding regions, is the best answer here. War, of course, is never the right answer, however sometimes something has to be done. This is as good an opportunity as any for our congregations to discuss issues of justice in the face of war and politics. Both Isaiah and the Psalmist this week cry out for deliverance. However, the danger always lurks that we might react like the king retaliating against those who killed his slaves or the improperly dressed guest.

Brightly coloured children’s birthday party invitations include the summons: ‘Please come to my party?’ Jesus spoke to the Temple authorities like a controversial guest speaker at a party political conference, he was bound to upset them again. But was his message simply: ‘Please come to my party?’

Prayer

(This is a summons of gathering in, not necessarily best used at the opening of an act of worship. Try using it several times throughout your worship time, as might be appropriate. Or encourage people to use it during the coming week.)

God invites you to the party!
God invites the child next to you to the feast!
God invites the man behind you to the celebration!
God invites the woman in front of you to the meal table!
God invites the friend you’ve never invited into this house!
God invites the stranger you won’t speak to into the kingdom!
God wants all people who’ve turned down the invitation.
Will you come to the party?
RSVP

Questions

• Reflecting on the purposes behind the ‘Season of Invitation’, who would your church want to invite to the ‘party’? How would you feel if the invited guests made poor excuses for not coming? How would you feel if they laughed in your face at the very though of your generous invitation? Or, supposing someone came along who didn’t know how to behave, or said the wrong thing, or was dressed ‘inappropriately’?
• Explore what it might mean to offer the invitation of an ‘open table’ at the sacramental feast of Holy Communion?

Action

Reflect on what projects and charitable causes your church is part of which involves inviting people in. In what sense do you reflect a wildly generous host who invites people in off the streets? Do you set conditions? Are there people whom you wouldn’t invite? Try and resolve to reach out to an as-yet untapped part of your local community.

Young people

Suggest Paddington Bear as a role model for our behaviour – politeness, innocence, kindness, generosity, fairness and justice. Possibly read an excerpt from one of Michael Bond’s stories as an example – the one about Paddington’s own birthday party is a good one. Where can we see Kingdom values here?

Tim Lowe is a minister for the United Reformed Church, serving churches in the north west of Coventry, and is particularly interested in varied visual art forms as expressions of faith.