ACC ~ Luke 14 v15 - 24

WHY JESUS TOLD THE PARABLE

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: One of those who were sitting at the table with them said, “Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.” Probably this man was not yet spiritual but earthly, and not able to understand correctly what Christ spoke. He was not one of those who believed, nor had he been baptized. He supposed that the rewards of the saints for their mutual labors of love would be in things pertaining to the body. Since they were too dull in heart to comprehend a precise idea, Christ outlines for them a parable that explains the nature of the era about to be instituted for their sakes. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 104. [1]

[1] CGSL 418**.

THE HEAVENLY FOOD OF JESUS’ WORD

CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA: The holy agape is the sublime and saving creation of the Lord. …

An agape is in reality heavenly food, a banquet of the Word. The agape, or love, “bears all things, endures all things, hopes all things. Love never fails.” [1] “Blessed is he who eats bread in the kingdom of God.” The most unlikely of all downfalls is charity that does not fail [2] to be thrown down from heaven to earth among all these dainty seasonings. Do you still imagine that I refer to a meal that will be destroyed? [3] “If I distribute my goods to the poor and do not have love,” Scripture says, “I am nothing.” [4] The whole law and the word depend on this love. [5] If you love the Lord your God and your neighbor, [6] there will be a heavenly feast in heaven. The earthly feast, as we have proved from Scripture, is called a supper. It is permeated with love yet is not identified with it but is an expression of mutual and generous good will. CHRIST THE EDUCATOR 2.1. [7]

[1] 1 Cor 13:8.

[2] 1 Cor 13:8.

[3] See 1 Cor 6:13.

[4] 1 Cor 13:3.

[5] Mt 22:40.

[6] Mk 12:30-31.

[7] FC 23:96-97**.

THE BREAD OF ETERNAL LIFE

ATHANASIUS: Oh, brothers and sisters, what a banquet that is! How great is the harmony and joy of those who eat at this heavenly table! They enjoy food that produces everlasting life, not that ordinary food which passes right on through the body. Who will be considered worthy to be in that group? Who is so blessed as to be called to and counted worthy of that divine feast? “Blessed is he who will eat bread in your kingdom.” Although he has been washed, even a person who has been judged worthy of this heavenly calling and has been sanctified by it can become unclean. How can he become unclean? “Counting as unclean the blood of the covenant by which be was sanctified and despising the Spirit of grace,” [1] he hears the Lord say, “Friend, how did you get in here without wedding garments?” [2] FESTAL LETTER. [3]

[1] Heb 10:29.

[2] Mt 22:12.

[3] ARL 122-23*.

GOD THE FATHER PROVIDES THE SUPPER

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: We understand the man to be God the Father. For similes represent the truth but are not the truth itself. The Creator of the universe and the Father of glory made a great supper, a festival for the whole world, in honor of Christ. In the last times of the world and at our world’s setting, the Son rose for us. At this time, he suffered death for our sakes and gave us to eat his flesh, the bread from heaven that gives life to the world. Toward evening and by the light of torches, the lamb was also sacrificed according to the law of Moses. With good reason, the invitation that is by Christ is called a supper. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 104. [1]

[1] CGSL 418**.

THE SLAVE WHO IS SENT IS CHRIST

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Next, who is he that was sent? It says he was a slave. Perhaps it is Christ. Although God the Word is by nature God and the very Son of God the Father from whom he was revealed, he emptied himself to take the form of a slave. Being God of God, he is Lord of all. One may justly apply the title of a slave to the limits of his humanity. Although he had taken the form of a slave, he was still Lord as being God. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 104. [1]

[1] CGSL 418**.

TO BESTOW GIFTS ON ALL THE WORLD

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: What was the nature of the invitation? “Come, for look, all things are ready.” God the Father has prepared in Christ gifts for the inhabitants of the earth. Through Christ, he bestowed the forgiveness of sins, cleansing away of all defilement, communion of the Holy Spirit, glorious adoption as children, and the kingdom of heaven. To these blessings, Christ invited Israel, before all others, by the commandments of the gospel. Somewhere he has even said by the voice of the psalmist, “But I have been sent as a king by him,” that is, by God the Father, “on Zion his holy mountain to preach the commandment of the Lord.” [1] COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 104. [2]

[1] Ps 2:6.

[2] CGSL 418-19**.

THOSE MAKING EXCUSES

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: “They began,” it says, “all of them at once to make excuse,” that is, as with one purpose, without any delay, they made excuse. … By senselessly giving themselves up to these earthly matters, they cannot see things spiritual. Conquered by the love of the flesh, they are far from holiness. They are covetous and greedy after wealth. They seek things that are below but make no account in the slightest degree of the hopes that are stored up with God. It would be far better to gain the joys of paradise instead of earthly fields and temporary furrows. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 104. [1]

[1] CGSL 419**.

PHARISEES AND SCRIBES REJECT THE INVITATION

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: It says that when the house owner heard their refusal, he was angry and commanded “to gather from the streets and marketplaces of the city the poor, the maimed, the blind, and the lame.” Who are they who refused to come because of lands, farming and the physical procreation of children? It must be those who stood at the head of the Jewish synagogue. They were people with wealth, the slaves of covetousness with their mind set on profit on which they lavished all their seriousness. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 104. [1]

[1] CGSL 419**.

GENTILES AND OUTCASTS CALLED FROM THE HIGHWAYS

AMBROSE: He turned to the Gentiles from the careless scorn of the rich. He invites both good and evil to enter in order to strengthen the good and change the disposition of the wicked for the better. The saying that was read today is fulfilled, “Then wolves and lambs will feed together.” [1] He summons the poor, the maimed and the blind. By this, he shows us either that handicaps do not exclude us from the kingdom of heaven and whoever lacks the enticements of sinning rarely offends, or that the Lord’s mercy forgives the weakness of sinners. Whoever glories in the Lord [2] glories as one redeemed from reproach not by works but by faith. [3]

He sends them into the highways, [4] because wisdom sings aloud in passages. [5] He sends them to the streets, because he sent them to sinners, so that they should come from the broad paths to the narrow way that leads to life. [6] He sends them to the highways and hedges. They, who are not busied with any desires for present things, hurry to the future on the path of good will. Like a hedge that separates the wild from the cultivated and wards off the attacks of wild beasts, they can distinguish between good and evil and extend a rampart of faith against the temptations of spiritual wickedness. [7] EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 7.202-3. [8]

[1] Is 65:25.

[2] See Jer 9:23-24; 1 Cor 1:31; 2 Cor 10:17.

[3] See Rom 9:32.

[4] Mt 22:9.

[5] Prov 1:20.

[6] Mt 7:13-14.

[7] See Eph 6:12.

[8] EHG 313-14**.

THE INVITATION TO THE GENTILES

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: The leaders of the Israelites remained aloof from the supper, as being obstinate, proud and disobedient. They scorned a surpassing invitation, because they had turned aside to earthly things and focused their mind on the vain distractions of this world. The common crowd was invited, and immediately after them the Gentiles. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 104. [1]

[1] CGSL 420**.