The Parable of the Great Banquet

The old Czech chronicle mentions that Prince Oldřich was invited to the feast by his neighbor, the commander Syb. Oldřich, however, was accustomed to spending the whole day in the woods on hunting, so he did not come to the feast. The host of Syba was so angry that he sent his soldier to Oldrich to stab him with a spear. By his refusal, he felt so offended that only Oldrich’s death could wash away this insult. Oldřich, however, escaped his pitfalls. So do the Chronicles. It is clear from their words that it is a shame for the host not to accept an invitation or to justify his absence with a petty excuse.

In the parable of the great dinner, Jesus speaks of how “a certain man prepared a great dinner and invited many people …” (Lk 14: 16). What about invited people? They began to say, “I bought a field … I bought five oxen races … I got married …” (Lk 14: 18-20). They did not come. He was ready to bring those who stood in the squares and streets, and to those who invited and did not come, he said that he would not try his dinner (Lk 14:24). The invitation to the feast of joy was prepared with great care and love. the invitation to the feast in the kingdom of heaven, and everyone who attends it will be blissful (Lk 14: 15), but for those invited, earthly things and worries are more important than the Lord’s invitation. because of higher interests and uncontrolled love for the early needs, they will lose their salvation, thus depriving themselves of their participation in this feast in the kingdom of heaven.

The Holy Scripture resembles eternal life in communion with God to a wedding reception, light, peace and so on. Heaven is the eternal communion of man with God. “God alone is enough for us”, says St. Terézia of Avila. Sv. John, referring to the Old Testament, says in the book of Revelation about bliss in heaven: “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him in his temple day and night. And he who sits on the throne will dwell on them. they shall not thirst, neither shall the sun nor any other fever strike upon them; . According to other statements of the Holy Scripture, the bliss of heaven consists in seeing God “face to face” (1 Cor 13: 12). “And eternal life is for them to know thee, the only true God, and him whom thou hast sent, Jesus Christ” (John 17: 3).

“We know, however, that when He appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is” (1 Jn 3: 2). “Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God” (Lk 14: 15). If it is very fortunate to come to a feast in heaven, to see God face to face (cf. I Cor 13: 12), do we care? During the French Revolution they were to hang one Christian because he did not want to renounce his faith. When the executioner lifted it, the rope broke. According to custom then, they gave life to such a person. But he got up and rushed to the rope again. Kat asked him, “Listen, why are you so rushing to death?” “If you saw what I saw just a moment ago, you too would want to die as soon as possible,” the condemned replied. Heaven is the culmination and crown of life, and therefore the fruits of human labor and the suffering of earthly existence will be glorified. Heavenly joy is also joy over the received retribution (cf. Mt 5: 12). God crowns with it the work of His grace. Everyone will receive the reward that belongs to him (cf. Mt 16:27). It is therefore no wonder that people of righteous and holy life wish to die as soon as possible. Sv. When he saw the open skies, the First Martyr Stephen no longer wished to be among the living (Acts 7: 56).

Theology and preachers have been trying to bring the faithful to life as they have been since ages, and it is certainly a commendable effort. But however they would explain those timeless facts to the language of temporality, it will always hold true: not so! Sv. the apostle Paul wrote that man could not have any idea or concept of what “the eye did not see or the ear did not hear” and what did not ascend into the human heart what God prepared for those who love him “(1 Cor 2: 9) Therefore, it is truly blissful who will take part in this joy. Let us take this invitation and not be forced to do it. Earthly matters, though necessary, should not separate us from the matter of the kingdom of God. “So seek first the kingdom of God. “(Mt 6:33).