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"Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God" That's the verse which proceeds this morning's Gospel. The Lord had entered the house of a Pharisee on the "Sabbath." He had healed a man with dropsy. His miracle was followed by "teaching words" on humility, taking the lowest seat when one is invited to a feast. These words had less to do with commandments than with His own enfleshed ministry.

"Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God." Such an individual regardless of color, race, ethnicity, sex, age, or national origin is "Blessed." The definition of "Blessed" is simple. It means that the designated person "shall eat bread in the kingdom of God." If our eventual terminus was to simply consume an infinite amount of "wonder bread" aeon after aeon for eternity that would be un-appetizing. The Lord means more than delicious, golden-brown, freshly baked, mouth-watering, home-made bread smothered in creamy butter. He is talking about Himself. "I Am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.... for this is the will of My Father; that every one who sees the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day" [St. Jn 6.35,40]

Jesus' parable is about the "kingdom ofGod," Heaven yes, but also about Himself, the Son of the King, and the King.

The Small Catechism lists three kingdoms: the Kingdom of Power (the Lord's created and governed universe; the "world"); the Kingdom of Grace (right now, the one, holy, Christian and apostolic Church); and the Kingdom of Glory (Heaven, the end of time unto eternity). Christ's parable shows you what you have now, and what you will have later, forever.

God gives not a mere luncheon, as the Pharisee did for Jesus. God gives a Great Dinner---a veritable feast. That is Good News if you're hungry, but meaningless if you're sated and bloated on the world's junk-food or your own poisonous inflated ego.

God invites many. John 3.16 says that Jesus died for the entire world's sins. We know from Scripture that our Lord's desire is for all to be saved. The word for "many" is not a reference to all men, but to some men: the Jews, God's original covenant people. They are not invited by King David, or by a seraph, or by Moses or Elijah, but by a servant - - a slave. God's gifts are given through a Servant. One who misses this, or who is offended by the humility and simpleness of the message, or messenger, misses out on the Banquet.

The Jews all began to make excuses, that is, they all began to to excuse themselves. "I have bought a piece of ground," "I have bought 5 yoke of oxen," "I have married a wife." Too many "I's," not enough Kyrie Eleison's. Sinful pagan man, be he Jew, Turk or American Atheist, will always be too busy for the Slave, the Lord Jesus Christ. The unbeliever will rely on his own efforts, be they the accumulation of the world's goods (land, wealth, power, prestige); the self-made industriousness of working hard, doing things, (the 5 "oxen" or the 5 books of Moses); or the taking of a false "help-mate," an idolatrous whore rather than the pure virgin church, the Bride of Christ. Filled up with the toxins of the world, the flesh, and the devil, one isn't hungry. Why go to the meal with a servant when one thinks he is eating pretty well by his own efforts.

The righteous wrath of the Master against the ingrates, rejectors, and self-reliant, does not destroy them out-right. The Master does not kill those who snub His meal, not at first. No, first He sends out His slave to bring in the poor, the maimed, the lame and the blind. This is a "picture" of what Jesus would later say to the Apostles, His own servants & slaves: "You shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria...") [Acts 1.8] If some refuse with hard hearts and stiff necks, denying their own hunger (their own sickness unto death; SIN) then the truly hungry ones will be brought in to the banquet hall, no matter how "undesireable" they may appear. Those who are poor and who cannot buy bread will be freely given the meal of immortality, angel's food. Those who are "not whole" will be made one with He who is perfect. Those who cannot walk will be set upon the Way, will be told to carry their pallet home, and will leap like a deer in joy. Those who are blind will be given back their sight. His spittle. His word. His created dirt-paste. His washing gives spiritual vision; faith.

When the slave scours the streets and the lanes of the city. God is showing that He is not a respecter of status, earthly wealth, or family ties. He seeks the lost. Good news indeed if one knows one is lost, hungry, tired and naked. And still there is more room... "For God so loved the world..." Good news if you happen to be born outside of Jerusalem, outside of the 1st century, outside of Pharisaical Judaism. "Go to the highways and hedges and compel them to come in..." Good news if you're a hungry Gentile.

You know about the Kingdom of Grace. You're sitting in it right now. You're feasting on the Forgiveness of Sins the Slave won for you when He suffered and died for all your greed, pride, meanness, lust, and lack of love. Because the Slave brought you into the great dinner by first washing you clean and making you presentable, you recline at table in faith in the remembrance of that day + and you dine on the Forgiveness of Sins in the Eucharist---the foretaste of the feast to come. And it will. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation. That's what this eating brings: eternal life, infinite salvation, no sadness, disappointment, regret, pain, depression.....No wants, no regrets, no tears, no thirst or hunger....only Jesus in the Kingdom of Glory which is coming. You prepare now again to practice what will truly be your theme in Glory.

"Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the Kingdom of God."