4: The danger of familiarity (Parable of the Great Banquet) | Can you see it?
In our society today, there are people who set off on an intellectual and spiritual journey. They have deep questions they want answered. They read books; they sample weird experiences. Deep down this is because they’re conscious of some mystery that’s summoning them, a holy grail they need to discover. Sadly, in spite of all their efforts, and as time goes by, they become increasingly disillusioned, cynical, agnostic. They don’t find what they’re seeking. But could it be that they are looking in all the wrong places. Because the answers they’re looking for are there in the Bible all along. But to suggest that, can be greeted with a wall of indifference, or even contempt. In fact, to help people discover the uniqueness and the relevance of the Christian message is not an easy task. Jesus himself, experienced the same problem. Frequently the people he had the hardest trouble with were those with strong religious backgrounds. And so Jesus tells another of his stories. But watch out. This one has a sting in the tail.
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