The Wonder of Heaven! ~ A Parable
I sit and I imagine heaven. Who is there?
I imagine heaven's banquet table, it is far longer than any eye can see - completely crafted as one piece from that eternal trunk of the Tree of Life.
Seated at the table's head is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Although not all those feasting see each other, they all clearly see the Godhead. It as if each one is seated in front of Them.
This table is set for celebrations. There are waiters pure and white, all scurrying about with gilt plated crockery offering delights, some beyond human imagination.
The cutlery too is not of this earth. No king's palace ever enjoyed such extravagance.
In my childlike imagination I too anticipate meat pies on the table, and bottles of ketchup ready to lace the pies as desired.
Most seated at the table are unable to see who sits closest to the Godhead.
Seated near the top of the table with the honor only such seating can give - I see the refugee, the vagrant and the ragamuffin - alongside them are the martyrs and those despised among men, those not counted as worthy upon this earth. Also near the top of the table are the prophets who read the times and called for repentance. Beside them are those who ached for righteousness. These ner-do-wells are now and forever doing-very-well. Each wore a crown, their own crown - those cowered on earth are crowned in heaven.
A most unkempt gent sat mighty close to the Throne of Grace. His crown forced flat some matted curls, while other untidy ringlets of hair dropped to his eyebrows and cascaded down his neck. Eagerly he eyed his simple fare, for he too loved meat pies. His steel blue eyes scanned around him searching for the ketchup. There was none close. To solve this problem he raised his throaty voice as he lifted his arm:
could someone pass me the ketchup?
For a brief moment heaven was silent. Then a well groomed gent humbly stood, his hair neatly in place and untroubled by his crown. His suit was well-fitting and his badges of honor glistened in a perfect light. Without a word he reached forward for the ketchup, lifted it, turned and walked towards the hoarse voice at head of the table.
The time is soon to come when the people I thought to be great weren't, and the people I thought little of I find great. That is the wonder of the Kingdom of Heaven. The last shall be first, and the least shall be greatest.
People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last. (Luke 13:29-30)
Today's Soul Snippet:
'God is never less than generous even when we are less than grateful'.
ENJOY too - The Wealth of the Poor
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