The Parable of the Great Feast

Today's Reflections

The Parable of the Great Feast 

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Lk 14:15-24

¹⁵One of [those at table with Jesus] said to him, “Blessed is the one who will dine in the kingdom of God.” ¹⁶He replied to him, “A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many. ¹⁷When the time for the dinner came, he dispatched his servant to say to those invited, ‘Come, everything is now ready.’ ¹⁸But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves. The first said to him, ‘I have purchased a field and must go to examine it; I ask you, consider me excused.’ ¹⁹And another said, ‘I have purchased five yoke of oxen and am on my way to evaluate them; I ask you, consider me excused.’ ²⁰And another said, ‘I have just married a woman, and therefore I cannot come.’ ²¹The servant went and reported this to his master. Then the master of the house in a rage commanded his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ ²²The servant reported, ‘Sir, your orders have been carried out and still there is room.’ ²³The master then ordered the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedgerows and make people come in that my home may be filled. ²⁴For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.’ ”

Reflection:

The master of the house. The man who gives a great dinner is God. The great dinner symbolizes the messianic banquet. Those invited refer to Israel. The servants who deliver the invitation personify the prophets. The invited guests who excuse themselves are the scholars of the Law and the Pharisees. They are preoccupied with other things. One is more attached to real estate, the second one puts more value on his livestock, and the third one is more worried about his social commitments. All of them have other priorities and have no time for God.

God is always calling us to return to him. He is sending messages and messengers to remind us to repent and reunite with him. We must give priority to God rather than our personal interests, economic gains, and personal relationships. We must actively participate to “dine in the kingdom of God.”

What things or concerns

are listed among your priorities?

Is God number one?