MENU

Gospel Reading - The Parable of the Great Dinner

¹⁵ Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, "What a privilege it would be to get into the Kingdom of God!"

¹⁶ Jesus replied with this illustration: "A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. ¹⁷ When all was ready, he sent his servant around to notify the guests that it was time for them to arrive. ¹⁸ But they all began making excuses. One said he had just bought a field and wanted to inspect it, and asked to be excused. ¹⁹ Another said he had just bought five pair of oxen and wanted to try them out. ²⁰ Another had just been married and for that reason couldn't come.

²¹ "The servant returned and reported to his master what they had said. His master was angry and told him to go quickly into the streets and alleys of the city and to invite the beggars, crippled, lame, and blind. ²² But even then, there was still room.

²³ " 'Well, then,' said his master, 'go out into the country lanes and out behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. ²⁴ For none of those I invited first will get even the smallest taste of what I had prepared for them.' "