The King’s Banquet

Written by Rosane Pereira 01 May 2015

My mother often cooked something special on Sundays. I can still remember the big open window in the living room, the unfolded table spread in the center, the delicious food, and the joyful family conversation.

We usually went to Children’s Mass at 10 am, while she stayed back and cooked and my dad did some fixing around the house. The story I remember most from those child-friendly sermons was the parable Jesus told of the king who invited his nobles to a banquet, but they all gave excuses why they couldn’t attend. So he sent for the beggars and poor peasants, who gladly came.1 Though at the time I didn’t understand its deeper meaning, that story left a deep impression on me.

Food is often connected with unity, good times, and celebrations. When I was a teen, a popular song went: “We plough the fields and scatter the good seed on the land. But it is fed and watered by God’s almighty hand. … All good things around us are sent from heaven above. Then thank the Lord … for all His love.”2 Even though I was an unbeliever at the time, this song filled my soul with joy.

Soon after that, I began to grow in faith again and eventually entered Christian service. A few years back, at a time when my problems seemed to have multiplied, I started to think God had forsaken me, but I didn’t go far before reading “The Lord is always with me,”3 “I have loved you with an everlasting love!”4 and “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”5

Throughout my life, God’s Word has helped me countless times to grow and better understand God and others. Sometimes His words are like a snack, other times a full meal, like my mother’s delicious Sunday specials. I am so grateful that the King invited me to His banquet, and that I accepted the invitation!
* * *
Come and Dine

“Come and dine,” You said to Your followers after Your resurrection,6 and You give the same invitation to everyone today. I accept. I want to know You, to receive You. I want to sit at Your table and eat with You in paradise.

Be present at our table, Lord;
Be here and everywhere adored;
Thy creatures bless, and grant that we
May feast in paradise with Thee.
—John Cennick (1718–1755)

1. See Luke 14:16–23.
2. Stephen Schwartz. Godspell, 1971.
3. Psalm 16:8 NLT
4. Jeremiah 31:3
5. Hebrews 13:5
6. John 21:12 KJV


Rosane Pereira is Brazilian and has been a career missionary together with her late husband, Carlos Cordoba, since 1975. She has eight children and five grandchildren. Rosane is an English and Spanish teacher, translator, and writer. She has authored a book on faith titled: Proofs of His Presence, and is currently writing a second book titled: An Eternal Apprentice. She is also a partner in a small business called Interconnect, that links translating and language learning with tourism and ecotourism in the Rio de Janeiro area.



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