Parable of the Great Feast

Luke 14: 15-24

Feasting was a pinnacle of Jewish social life. The cultural practice was to send banquet and wedding invitations weeks or months in advance. To be invited to a great feast by a prominent person was a “big deal,” and rarely did people refuse to come.

Jesus had noticed the proud, self-seeking attitudes of the Pharisees at the dinner he was attending. He told them not to seat themselves in the places of honor, to leave that to the host or they would be shamed when they had to move.

The Pharisees thought only they would make it into the kingdom of God. Certainly it would not be the outcasts of society!  Jesus tells them that when they give a banquet - a dinner party, they should invite only those who cannot repay.

Healing through meal sharing is among the 19 mercies Brennan Manning sets out in “The Ragamuffin Gospel," his primary message - “the furious love of God.”

As a condition of my dad’s work, my family moved frequently around the country. Others were invited to share holiday meals with us. One Thanksgiving, my mother invited a young woman to join us for dinner; she had confided in her that she was unable to buy groceries.  Her husband, a merchant marine was out to sea on 30 day voyages and her bank account was over-drawn.  Not long after, she was not concerned about groceries.  Her husband had written a quick selling book “Cool Hand Luke” while at sea.  

Someday, we will be invited to an eternal feast hosted by our Lord Jesus!

Then the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” Revelation 19:9