Hello and welcome to the John Mark Homer Teachings podcast. My name is Yinka Dawson and I'm your host.

Each week we feature teachings by John Mark or other voices in the formation space.

Today, Tyler Stating continues our teaching series on the purpose of our spiritual formation

to become people of love for the sake of others.

This week, he explores Jesus' practice of feasting and celebrating with others,

revealing the inclusivity of the kingdom and the joy that's available to us.

Here's Tyler.

Then Jesus said to his host,

when you give a luncheon or dinner,

do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters,

your relatives or your rich neighbors.

If you do, they may invite you back and you will not be repaid. And so you will be

repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,

and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the

resurrection of the righteousness. When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to

Jesus, Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus replied,

A certain man was preparing a great banquet, invited many guests. At the time of the banquet,

he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, come for everyone is now ready,

or everything is now ready. But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said,

I've just bought a field and I must go and see it. Please excuse me. Another said, I've just

bought five yoke of oxen and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.

Still another said, I just got married.

...