Have a party – it’s a holy thing to do! Let me explain.

This year we are invited to join in the celebration’s for the Queen’s Jubilee. Everyone. Even if we don’t believe in monarchy, we are invited to raise a glass, real or metaphorical, to recognise one person’s extraordinary work and service.

And I would have thought anyone can do that. Suppose you have neighbours that you don’t particularly like, but they invite you to celebrate their daughter’s engagement. It would be churlish, surely, to say, “no, I don’t want your champagne!”

Now, you may have heard of the concept of Jubilee in the Bible – where, after 49 years debts got cancelled and property returned. That Jubilee happened whether you agreed with it or not. So too with this Jubilee, there will be a celebration, whether everyone agrees with monarchy or not. And all are invited to join in.

Back to my claim that having a party is holy. The image used again and again in the Bible as a metaphor for Heaven is a banquet, a feast, - a party! Want to imagine the “Kingdom of God”? Think, party. God invites us to be part of what he’s doing, here in the world and ultimately for all eternity. All of us, even those who don’t believe in him. All are invited into this Kingdom which is described as a feast, a banquet – a party.

Add to that Jesus’ claim that he came to bring us life, and life in all its fullness. Now, I don’t think for a minute Jesus would condone simple excess and nuisance and self-destruction, but I’m even more convinced that he did NOT have in mind Presbyterian dourness, or the stereo-typical Christian killjoy attitude.

I know it’s a well respected part of the Christian tradition, and other faiths also have similar strands, but I have to be honest, I personally just don’t get the extremes of self-denial – becoming a hermit in a desert or whipping yourself. I can’t imagine that God is up there saying, “Aww….that’s lovely, thanks for doing that for me.” Is that life in all its fullness? I just don’t see it. Which would most people prefer, a party or a night out with some ascetic monk. “What would Jesus do?” as the well known wristband says? Well we know - he sat with the sinners, and went to feasts!

Back to the Queen’s Jubilee. When someone has done all that she has done, and you are asked to celebrate, well why not? It’s part of living life to the full, and celebrating is a little parable of God’s kingdom. Have a party – it’s a holy thing to do!