The Parable of the Great Supper

(Luke 14:16-24) (December 28, 2003)

In today’s reading from the Gospel according to St. Luke, our Lord Jesus Christ is speaking in a parable. Parables are given for our instruction; and, if we want to learn from the parable, we have to be able to recognize who we are among the persons described in the parable.

In the parable of the Great Supper, we meet “a certain man,” who is giving the supper, and his servant. The fathers tell us that the “certain man” is God the Father, the Lover of mankind; His servant is Christ, who, “not counting equality with God as something to be grasped, made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men”; and the “great supper” is the divine economy of God for our salvation through the Incarnation. We also see two groups of people: those for whom the feast had been prepared; and those who were not originally invited to come to the feast. The parable concludes with its “punch line” - “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

You know the story. Those who had originally been invited to partake of the feast, whose presence was expected, send word that they cannot - or will not - come, even though they are now summoned to do so. Christ, the servant of God, has come to them, and tells them that “all things are now ready” - “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” But their desires for wealth, and for pleasure in this world, are more important to them than is participation in the feast of our salvation, and so they do not come. In their place at the table, we find those who have been brought in from the streets, and from the highways and hedges. These are those who travel a way other than the one true path appointed by God; a way of lawlessness; a way of false beliefs; a way of sin. Sin is a great hedge that separates us from God. The servant of God is sent to them, not merely to invite them, but to “compel” them to come to the great supper. Now, this does not mean that they were forced to attend against their will, for God does not violate our freedom to choose whether or not we will believe. Rather, the servant of God is sent with great power to preach and proclaim and demonstrate the word of truth, so that those of us who were mired in false beliefs and doing unspeakable things might be persuaded to leave these behind, and walk instead the road of the life that is pleasing to God, doing the will of God instead of continuing to practice our sins. “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Where do we find ourselves in this parable? Brothers and sisters, we are either among those who love the things of this world more than we love God; or we are among those who have recognized the great generosity of God’s mercy, and have been “compelled” to come to the feast by the persuasive power of the love of God for us. In this, we can begin to grasp what the saying at the end of the parable means: “many are called, but few are chosen.” God calls many - that is to say, everyone -- to take part in the great feast of salvation. But who are the “chosen?” The chosen ones are those who open their hearts to receive the grace of God; and who yield themselves to doing the will of God in and through and by the power of God’s grace. The chosen ones are those who live to fulfill the will of God, obeying His commandments, loving God with all their heart and soul and mind and strength, and loving their neighbor as they love themselves. When we live in this way - when we live the life of the Orthodox Church and faith - we live by God’s grace; and His grace will bring us to take part in the “great supper” of God’s salvation.

Brothers and sisters, the day is past, and evening is at hand - it is “suppertime.” Let us not be one of those who loves the things and pleasures of this world above God. Let us choose to trust in God, and the love of God for us in Jesus Christ. Let us submit ourselves to God, living a life of prayer and fasting and alms-giving and spiritual struggle, in humility and love. Let us choose to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior; and to accept the free gift of God’s grace; so that we may be partakers of the delights of His Mystical Supper now, and in the Kingdom of God.