Matthew 22:1-5 (NASB) … Tell those who have been invited, “Behold I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fattened livestock are all butchered and everything is ready; come to the wedding feast.” 5 but they paid no attention. (KJV: “made light of it“) and went their way, one to his farm, another to his business.
Some time last year, a sister wanted to visit my home for fellowship, so I told her that I would cook, and that we could share over the meal. That morning, as I had nearly finished preparations, she canceled. She made sincere apologies, but she did cancel. I was a bit perturbed, but I was also comforted that I could turn the meal into several days’ supply of time-saving leftovers. As for missing the fellowship, it really wasn’t a great concern to me.
But Lord, what You have prepared, and the contempt that I and others have shown toward it – well, it shakes me to the core.
When You prepared a bush that continued to burn, but was not consumed (Exodus 3:1-3), Moses said, “I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up” (verse 2). He did not put it off, saying, “I’ll check this out later, after I’ve tended to my tasks.“No, he did it “now.“ He was unencumbered enough in lifestyle to have both time and presence of mind to see what You had prepared.
When John the Baptist came preaching repentance, the Pharisees watched as the tax collectors and soldiers repented. But they themselves would not repent; instead justified themselves, thinking they were righteous. You had prepared this opportunity for anyone who cared to repent. They cared not to repent. They couldn’t see what You had prepared. They did not know the time of their visitation. “You came into Your own and Your own received (welcomed) You not” (John 1: 11).
Oh Lord, You have prepared everything. You have left the glories of Heaven, taken the form of a servant, and humbled Yourself to the point of dying for disinterested men. There You are, hanging naked on the cross, hanging there as the backdrop behind our daily routines and tasks and interactions. We see You, but we don’t consider this scene worthy of consideration or investigation. You are there; the work You came to do is finished and available to us, yet we go about as if all is routine. We disregard this spectacle through which You loved us with everything You had.
There You are, hanging there in humiliation because of love for us, opening the way for us to commune with You and to dine at Your table, but we make light of it. The greatest outpouring of love ever made is there for all to see, and yet we ignore it and tend instead to our farms and our businesses, that is, to our possessions and our careers.
And there You are, risen in glory, the veil torn, the way of life thrown open in splendor, the table of communion and friendship prepared for our arrival, place cards positioned, delicacies selected, stemware filled, flowers arranged, and angelic music ensemble assembled. Everything is ready. But we make light of it. We don’t really make excuses; no, we make light of it, regarding it with contempt. It is beneath our notice, unworthy of our consideration, not registering on the radar of our regard.
make light of (Strong’s G272 - ameleō) - [Thayer] to be careless of, to neglect; [HELPS Word-studies] properly, without concern, unaffected, viewing something as being without significance, i.e. without perceived value ("of no moment").
Oh Father, this shakes me! You have made all things ready, yet I say, “But I don’t have time,” or “I’m too sleepy because I stayed up too late.” I long to be at Your table and in Your presence. I long to not disappoint You with my absence. I repent for neglecting so great salvation (Hebrews 2:3). Give me grace by the Holy Spirit to come and come often to this communion table that you have made ready for me.