You Have a Place at Grace - 6/11/2026

“For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper” (Luke 14:24).

The meal is cooked. The table is set. The host is waiting. “Come, for all things are now ready.”

Nothing is lacking when it comes to your salvation. Jesus has died, risen and ascended to the Father’s right hand. He gives the ransom tearing you out of death and presents you without blemish. Reconciliation with God He has accomplished by His cross and blood. Today we hear His Word preached. Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, even the gift of Confession and Absolution where God’s man pronounces you forgiven, absolved, go in peace for your troubled conscience—you find these gifts in the Church. The Bible says in Romans 8:1: “there is no condemnation in Christ.” In Luke (18:14) the penitent tax collector leaves worship “justified” Nothing is lacking. “It is finished” says the Lord. Now come, “taste and see that the Lord is good.” The banquet He prepares, the invitations go forth. Come, friend, dine, eat, and rejoice. But the answer is no. The “coming” doesn’t happen. The invitations go out and at supper time the servant announces to those invited “come, for all things are now ready.” “But they all with one accord began to make excuses.”

Every Sunday God provides the banquet. The food is ready, the table is set. The Gospel granting us life in heaven goes forth. The Lord’s Supper lies on that altar for the forgiveness of sins. Baptisms happen wherein the child is brought into the fold by our gracious God Who fulfills His promises. Still, many make excuses. I’m tired. I’m busy. I can just catch it all on YouTube while sipping coffee in my pj’s. I don’t need it. I’m full. We’re not talking about flagrant sins excluding one from the Kingdom.  It’s excuses. Excuses for not coming to the banquet cause the Master to ultimately say “none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.”

The excuses are lousy, too. The first bought land before inspecting it. The second bought oxen before trying them out. The third got married and so couldn’t come. Economic transactions and marriage are fine things in and of themselves. We’re allowed to do them before God. Here, however, they’re excuses for hearing, coming, tasting, and seeing that the Lord is good. The world, then surpasses God and we labor to save our life now only to lose it in the end.

Repent of the excuses. The banquet is ready and we need it. The Bible tells us so. Our sins make us filthy and poor, spiritual beggars before the Most High God. His Bread is the Bread of Life, Christ our risen Lord Who gives Himself to those gathering in His Name (Matt. 18:20). It’s the Food of life when faith receives Christ and all His gifts, and we confess “my cup runs over” (Ps.23:5). Nothing is lacking at this banquet. It’s Food we can’t live without even when the devil tells us otherwise.

-Rev. Ryan J. Ogrodowicz, “You Have a Place at Grace,” June 11^th, 2026

Grace Lutheran Church - Brenham, Texas

The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod