BANQUET

I felt really silly the other day! You know how it is

when you’re invited to a party and you try to arrive so that you’re not late but you’re not the first one there either.

Well there I was. I thought I’d timed it just right but

obviously not, because I was by myself. I knew there were

lots of people coming. I’d glanced through the door and

seen a table staggering under the weight of an exquisite

banquet, with every kind of food imaginable.

So I did what anyone would do. I checked my ticket, twice, (or was it three times?) to make sure I’d got the right night - which I must have anyway in view of the banquet: I read every piece of literature in the room, interesting or not, some of them twice and I tried to look nonchalant and failed. Still no-one else arrived.

I decided to leave quietly - hoping the Lord didn’t hear me - and come back later when the party was in full swing. But I couldn’t resist a closer look at the table before I left, it looked so beautiful.

What a good thing it was that I couldn’t help having that one last look. As I was standing there lost in the wonder of the feast before me the Lord came in and said “I’m so pleased you’ve come, sit and eat if you are ready.”

“It’s O.K. Lord”, I said, “I’ll wait for everyone else to arrive”.

“Hadn’t you noticed the table is set for one” he replied.

“Everything here is for you, everything I have is yours.

Come, enjoy all I have prepared for you”.