invitation to the feast

come, all you who thirst,
all you who hunger for the bread of life,
all you whose souls cry out for healing;
come, come to the feast of life.

come, all you who are weary,
all you who are bowed down with worry,
all you who ache with the tiredness of living;
come, come to the feast of life.

come, all you poor,
all you who are without food or refuge,
all you who go hungry in a fat land;
come, come to the feast of life.

come all you who are bitter,
all you whose hopes have tarnished into cynicism,
all you who feel betrayed and cannot forgive;
come, come to the feast of life.

come, all you who grieve,
all you who suffer loss as a fresh knife wound,
all you who curse the God you love;
come, come to the feast of life.

come, all you who are sinners,
all you who have sold the gift that is within you,
all you who toss uneasily in your bed at night;
come, come to the feast of life.

come, all you who are oppressed,
all you who have forgotten the meaning of freedom,
all you whose cries cut to the very heart of God;
come, come to the feast of life.

come, all you who are traitors,
all you who use your wealth and power to crucify God,
all you who cannot help yourselves;
come, come to the feast of life.

come, all you who are sick,
all you whose bodies or minds have failed you,
all you who long above all for healing;
come, come to the feast of life.

come, all you who are lost,
all you who search for meaning but cannot find it,
all you who have no place of belonging;
come, come to the feast of life.

the table of Jesus is your place of gathering;
here you are welcomed, wanted, loved,
here there is a place set for you;
come, come to the feast of life.

-Mike Riddell