130. A Dinner at a Pharisee’s House: the Parable of the Great Supper Given by a Certain Man. Lk. 14:15–24

When one of those at table with Him heard this, he said to Him: Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the Kingdom of God! But He said to him: A certain man gave a great supper, and invited many. And at the time for the supper he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited: Come; for all things are now ready.

But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him: I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused. And another said: I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused. And another said: I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant: Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame. And the servant said: Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room. And the master said to the servant: Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.

For many are called, but few are chosen.