ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // The banquet to which we are invited is founded by the King - Christ, our Lord. For all of the imagery sung in the first part of this stanza - a “soul adorned with gladness” - the “daylight’s splendor” - the true miracle of God’s banquet is expressed at the conclusion. Though Christ dwells in heaven - “high and holy/apart from us” - in this feast, our Lord comes to dwell with the lowly - those who consider themselves good for something and good for nothing!

Stanza 2 // In contrast to this weekend’s text, this stanza encourages our attendance at the banquet be “eager and glad.” The invitation is Christ’s own - He “founds” the banquet, “knocks at the door” and “unlocks the gate.” The latter half of this stanza holds Christ to the promise He gives:  In mercy, our Lord will not forsake His people. We have his promise!

Stanza 3 // The banquet to which God invites is for our “consolation and salvation.” The souls fed at this table are countless - perhaps a helpful picture thanks to our own attempts to keep others from receiving the body and blood of Christ.

Stanza 4 // We sing a word heard in this weekend’s Scripture passage: “Worthily let me receive you, and, so favored, never leave you.” As we learn from Jesus’ own recounting of the story, those who were deemed “unworthy” were replaced with “good and bad” people! What matters at this banquet is the One who gives the invitation - who chooses His guests! When we come to Christ’s table - whether good or bad in the world’s eyes - Christ sees us for what we are, and bestows his favor upon those who receive His promise of forgiveness, new life, and salvation.

SUGGESTIONS:

• ELW 488 - Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness - ꜱᴄʜᴍüᴄᴋᴇ ᴅɪᴄʜ
• ELW 531 - The Trumpets Sound, the Angels Sing - ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴇᴀꜱᴛ ɪꜱ ʀᴇᴀᴅʏ
• ELW 462 - Now We Join in Celebration - ꜱᴄʜᴍüᴄᴋᴇ ᴅɪᴄʜ
• ELW 827 - Arise, My Soul, Arise! - ɴʏᴛ ʏʟöꜱ, ꜱɪᴇʟᴜɴɪ
• ELW 362 - At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing - ꜱᴏɴɴᴇ ᴅᴇʀ ɢᴇʀᴇᴄʜᴛɪɢᴋᴇɪᴛ
• LBW 203 - Now We Join in Celebration - ꜱᴄʜᴍüᴄᴋᴇ ᴅɪᴄʜ
• LBW 210 - At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing - ꜱᴏɴɴᴇ ᴅᴇʀ ɢᴇʀᴇᴄʜᴛɪɢᴋᴇɪᴛ
• LSB 633 - At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing - ꜱᴏɴɴᴇ ᴅᴇʀ ɢᴇʀᴇᴄʜᴛɪɢᴋᴇɪᴛ
• LSB 636 - Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness - ꜱᴄʜᴍüᴄᴋᴇ ᴅɪᴄʜ
• RH 150 - At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing - ꜱᴏɴɴᴇ ᴅᴇʀ ɢᴇʀᴇᴄʜᴛɪɢᴋᴇɪᴛ