The Parable of the Great Feast
No fixed feast day in the calendar
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The invited guests all refuse, so the host invites the poor, the lame and the blind to his feast
What is this parable?
One sabbath, Jesus was dining at the home of one of the leading Pharisees (cf. Lk 14:1). One of the guests at the table said: “Blessed is the one who will dine in the kingdom of God.” (Lk 14:15). At once the Lord told this parable to show who would really come to that feast. The Gospel of Matthew has a similar parable about the wedding feast of a king’s son (cf. Mt 22:1-14), but that is a different story.
The story
Jesus tells this story: a man gave a great dinner and invited many people. When the time came, he sent his servant to tell them: “Come, everything is now ready.” (Lk 14:17). But one after another they all began to make excuses. The first had just bought a field, the second had just bought five yoke of oxen, and the third had just married (cf. Lk 14:18-20).
The master was angry and sent his servant out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town to bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame. The servant said there was still room. The master told him to go out to the highways and hedgerows and invite people in, so that his house would be full (cf. Lk 14:21-23). As for the guests who had refused, they would not taste his dinner (cf. Lk 14:24).
The card shows the moment when the servant leads the lame man and the blind man to the door of the brightly lit banquet hall.
What does Jesus want to teach you?
The feast is a picture of the Kingdom of Heaven, where God wants everyone to share his joy. The first guests’ reasons were not bad things: land, work, family. The only problem was that they put those things above God’s invitation. But the poor, the weak and people others looked down on came gladly. Just before this parable, the Lord also taught: when you hold a banquet, invite the poor and the crippled (cf. Lk 14:13). God’s heart is open to all; only those who close their own hearts stay outside.
A lesson for you
- When the Lord invites you to Mass, to catechism class or to prayer, do not make excuses because you are busy playing or feeling lazy.
- Open your heart and welcome into your group a classmate who is poor, has a disability or is left out.
- Thank the Lord that every Sunday you are invited to the feast of the Eucharist.
Identifying marks
- The servant leading a guest by the hand and pointing into the banquet hall with the other: God sends people out to invite everyone into the Kingdom of Heaven; the invitation is brought right to the door.
- A man leaning on a wooden crutch and a man with closed eyes holding a stick: the lame and the blind, people who are often pushed aside, are the first ones God welcomes in.
- The old clothes and worn scarves of the two guests: they are poor and have nothing to give in return; God’s grace is a free gift.
- A brightly lit banquet hall, low tables full of bread and fruit, cushions waiting: the Kingdom of Heaven is a joyful feast already prepared, and there is still a place for you.
The text on this page is the card in the Catholic Information app, word for word.
Compiled by i-Catholic · About