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The wedding feast parable. - The narrow door. - Not all those who say: Lord! Lord! will enter into the kingdom of Heaven. - Much will be charged from those who have received much. - Instructions from the spirits: More will be given to those who have. - True Christians can be recognized by their work.

The wedding feast parable

1. Jesus spoke to them by parables, saying: “The kingdom of Heaven is like a king who made a marriage for his son and sent his servants to call to the wedding feast the invited guests, but they would not come. Then he sent other servants, saying: ‘Tell the bidden ones: The king has prepared his calves and fattened cattle; everything is ready; come to the wedding.’ But the guests disregarded his invitation. Some went to another country, others went to their businesses and the rest seized the king's servants, mistreated them and killed them. Enraged, the king sent his troops, destroyed the murderers and their city. Then he said to his servants: ‘The wedding party is ready, but the bidden ones were not worthy of it. Now go to the streets and invite whosoever you find.’ The servants obeyed. They called all those they found, bad and good, and the wedding feast was held. When the king came into the party to see the guests, he saw there a man who lacked the wedding garment. Then the king asked him: ‘Friend, how did you come in without a wedding garment?’ The man was speechless. Then the king said to his servants: ‘Bind his feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Many are called but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:1-14.)

2. In this parable, the feast means the pure and permanent happiness that both incarnate and disembodied can enjoy through fulfillment of divine law, which, in short, is the law of love and charity, that comprises selflessness, humility, forgiveness, tolerance, meekness, respect and all the other virtues. The banquet could also be interpreted as the life on the Earth after the end of present transition period. The feast invitation means the call to fulfillment of divine guidance, which is the happiness recipe. The king's servants are the morally-advanced spirits, commonly called prophets or saints, who incarnate on the planet in order to guide the people to practice the God's law. Notwithstanding their brave efforts, they are frequently martyred and their warnings are often disregarded. Those who declined invitation symbolize the worldly people who, concerned only with material affairs, prioritize transient physical conquests instead of permanent spiritual achievement. The wedding garment means the merit required for one to live in a happier environment, which can only be acquired through good conduct and good deeds. The first bidden ones were the children of Israel, chosen by God to firstly receive the law, initially through Moses and later through Jesus, because they were monotheism pioneers. The other guests, who were called later, symbolize all the other peoples on the Earth. Everyone, no matter their belief and spiritual advancement degree, has been receiving the guidance provided by the worldwide spread of divine word. Those who were destroyed by the king mean the fake christs and fake prophets, who, in order to get money and power, “mistreat and kill the king's servants”, that is, intentionally corrupt and distort the divine law of love for their own selfish advantage.

But just being invited is insufficient for one to take part in the celestial banquet. Everyone has to be properly dressed in order to remain there. So, one needs to previously acquire the wedding garment, that is, the portfolio of virtue and good deeds which is the admission requirement. All the divine moral rules can be summarized by the words without charity there is no salvation. This is the password for one to obtain the wedding garment demanded for living in paradise. But among those who know the divine password, just few keep it. Only few manage to get the nuptial clothing required for a happier existence. This is why Jesus stresses that many are called but few are chosen, that is, few qualify themselves for a happier existence.

The narrow door

3. “Enter through the narrow gate. Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. Small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it!” (Matthew 7:13-14.)

4. One asked him: “Lord, will the saved be few?” He answered: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many will seek to enter in it but will be unable. Once the house owner closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ But he will answer, ‘I ignore who you are and where you come from.’ Then you will say: ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ He will reply: ‘I ignore who you are and where you come from. Depart from me, all you evildoers! There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth there, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves thrown out. People will come from east, west, north and south, and they will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. And there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.” (Luke 13:23-30.)

5. The damnation door is wide because evil passions abound and many people surrender to them. Salvation door is narrow because those who want to pass through it have to exert severe self-control to doing good and mastering bad trend, and few are enough determined to do it. As the Earth is still an atonement world, evil still prevails in the planet. This is why many are called but few are chosen. Nevertheless, the pathway to goodness will be preferred after the planet has been raised to the regeneration category.

Life on Earth still has much unhappiness and pain, which are explained by soul preexistence, reincarnation and diversity of inhabited worlds. These principles evince God's justice and the link between past, present and future. By using free will, humans themselves can build their own future. Once these concepts have been understood, the depth, truth and wisdom of Christ's words become crystal clear.

Not all those who say: Lord! Lord! will enter into the kingdom of Heaven

6. “Not everyone who says to me: ‘Lord! Lord!’ shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but only those who do the will of God. Many will say to me in that day: ‘Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons and perform many miracles in your name?’ And I will tell them: ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers.” (Matthew 7:21-23.)

7. “One who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise person who built their house upon the rock. The rain came, the streams rose, the wind blew and beat upon the house and it resisted because it is founded on rock. But everyone who hears my words and neglects them is like a fool who built their house on sand. The rain and flood came, the wind blew and beat upon the house and it fell with a great crash.” (Matthew 7:24-27 - Luke 6:46-49.)

8. “Whoever breaks the least of the commandments and teaches people to also break them will be called the least in the kingdom of Heaven. But whoever practices and teaches the commandments will be called great in the kingdom.” (Matthew 5:19.)

9. Everyone who recognizes the Jesus' kingship uses to say: “Lord! Lord!” However, what is the use of calling him “Master” while neglecting his precepts? Are Christians they who honor Jesus with exterior devotion while, at the same time, surrender to pride, selfishness, greed, revenge and all the bad passions? Are his disciples those who pass days in prayer but remain vicious, uncharitable, useless, prejudiced and intolerant? No, they are not Christians at all. As the Pharisees, they have prayer on lips but not inside heart. Their theatrical exhibition can impress many humans but not God. In vain they will say to Jesus: “Lord! Did not we teach in your name? Did not we chase demons away in your name? Did not we eat and drink with you?” He will reply to them: “I ignore who you are. Go away from me, you who commit iniquity, you who deny by your very acts what you say, you who slander neighbor, rob widow and commit adultery. Go away from me, you hypocritical, whose stony hearts distill hate and bile, you who spill blood of your sibling and make tears to flow instead of drying them. For you there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, because the God's Kingdom is for those who are gentle, humble and charitable. Give up trying to bribe God's justice by the amount of your public prayers and kneeling. The only pathway to finding grace before divine eyes is sincerely practicing love and charity.”

The words of Jesus are eternal because they are true. Love to God and love to neighbors. These two principles underpin peace, justice and stability. Political, social or religious institutions which are founded upon these pillars will remain as steady as the house built upon rock. People will maintain them because they will find happiness in them. Oppositely, those who attack these principles will be as the house built upon sand: the renewal wind and the evolution river will carry them away.

Much will be charged from those who have received much

10. “The servant who knows their master's will and disregards it will be beaten with many blows. But the servant who ignores their master's will and does wrong will be beaten with few blows. For much will be demanded from they who have received much, and much will be charged from those who have been entrusted with much.” (Luke 12:47-48.)

11. “Some Pharisees heard his words and asked him: ‘What? Are we blind too?’ Jesus said: ‘If you were blind, you would be guiltless. But you yourselves claim that you can see. Therefore your guilt remains.” (John 9:40-41.)

12. Whoever violates the charity law is blameworthy. However, one who understands this divine code and disregards it is guiltier than the ignorant whose conscience is still immature.

The more resources we are given, the more severely we will be demanded by the Eternal Judge. This principle applies to all means we receive, including moral guidance, which is a major resource. Charity and love lessons are widespread. Everywhere good people and evolved spirits copy, comment and develop good messages to all audiences, be they learned or illiterate, skeptical or believer, Christian or not. One who understands the divine law will not be allowed to allege ignorance of it.

This applies even more specially to the Spiritist teachings. People who understand and admire them but prevent them to drive their hearts are guiltier. Are the Spiritist lessons useful for people who know them but remain selfish, prideful, sensual, vicious and futile? The more open doors one finds to know the truth, the greater is their responsibility.

Mediums who receive good communications but persist in wrongdoing are yet more censurable. They frequently write down their own condemnation. When they are enough humble, they can recognize it is to them themselves that spirits are often writing. But instead of taking for themselves the lessons they handle, they prefer applying the warning only to others. So, they confirm the words: You see an eyelash in your neighbor's eye, but you do not see the beam that is in yours. (See chapter 10, item 9.)

When Jesus says the Pharisees would be innocent if they were blind, he explains that blame is proportional to enlightenment. So, that sect, who comprised the most enlightened group among the Jews, were guiltier before God than the ignorant evildoers. The same criterion applies today.

Much will be asked of Spiritists because they receive much. On the other hand, much will be given to those who take advantage of Spiritist learning. The first thought of all sincere Spiritists should be finding out, in the counseling from the spirits, something which applies to themselves. Spiritism is come to multiply the called ones. Due to the faith it provides, it will also manifold the number of chosen ones.

INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE SPIRITS

More will be given to those who have

13. His disciples asked him: “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He answered: “Because you are given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven, but they are not. More will be given to those who have and they will have abundance. From they who lack, even what they have will be taken away. Therefore I speak to them in parables because seeing, they do not perceive, and hearing, they neither listen nor understand. In them is fulfilled the Isaiah's prophecy which says: ‘You hear but never understand, you see but never perceive.” (Matthew 13:10-14.)

14. He continued: “Consider carefully what you hear: With the measure you use, it will be measured to you - and even more. To whoever has, more will be given. From whoever lacks, even what they have will be taken away.” (Mark 4:24-25.)

15. More will be given to whoever has. Meditate on these words. “They who have” mean those who understand the actual essence of God's law, which is love. The more they persevere toward good, the more divine blessings they attract and receive, because the Almighty encourages all sincere endeavors in favor of goodness. Like magnets, good workers attract to themselves strength, guidance and enlightenment. So, they enable themselves to keep climbing the spiritual evolution mountain, in whose pinnacle they will find the after-struggle rest.

From whoever lacks, even what they have will be taken away. Think of this great symbolic teaching! God never takes anything away from those who lack. Human beings themselves do it! By surrendering to selfishness, pride, sensuality and frivolity when everything favors them, or by yielding to dismay and despair when distress comes, people weaken the divine seed which is inside themselves. Due to improper use of free will, humans themselves dry the good grain, rather than developing it.

A son inherits a fertile field from his father. However, rather than working the land to grow crops, the son forsakes the farm and goes away to have fun. Soon, weeds cover the once rich soil. The son harvests no production, becomes unable to pay his dues and gets seriously indebted. Is the father blamable for the son's ruin? No! His father provided him the resources he needs to carry on. Instead of accusing his father, the son should work courageously, with repentance and sincere resolution to go ahead. He must confidently work field with perseverance, faith, love and charity. Then the son will see his efforts crowned with success. One grain will produce a hundred and another a thousand.

Courage, workers! Take up your hoes and ploughs! Work your minds and hearts! Rip all the noxious weeds out. Cultivate the good seed God has entrusted you. Then the dew of love will make them to produce plentiful good fruits. - A friendly spirit. (Bordeaux, 1862.)

True Christians can be recognized by their work

16. Not all those who say “Lord! Lord!” will enter into Heaven, but only those who do the will of God. Listen to these words of Jesus, you who reject the Spiritist doctrine as a work of devil. Open up your ears because the moment to listen has arrived. Is it enough carrying the Lord's book in order to be his faithful servant? Is it enough to say “I am Christian” to be a follower of Jesus? Search the true Christians and you will recognize them by their works. A good tree cannot give bad fruits, and a bad tree cannot give good fruits. Every tree that denies good fruits will be cut down and cast into the fire. These words come from our master Jesus. Disciples of Christ: understand them correctly!

What benefits should Christianity spread? What fruits should this gorgeous tree give to the people who seek its shade? The tree of life is supposed to provide fruits of life: hope, strength and faith. This blessed tree strives to spread its beneficent fruits. The tree is always good but the gardeners are bad. They shaped the tree to their own ideas, pruned it according to their selfish interest. They cut the tree, reduced it and mutilated it. Its sterile branches now cannot give any fruits at all. The hungry travellers who stop under its branches, looking for the fruits of hope which restore strength and courage, find only bare branches which foretell a coming storm. In vain the voyagers look for fruits of faith. Only dry leaves fall at their feet. Human hands have so much tampered the tree that it became sterile!

Dear beloved siblings: open up your hearts and ears! Cultivate the pure Christian teaching, this powerful tree of life, whose fruits give eternal life. The gardener who planted it invites you to treat it with love, so that you may see it giving an abundance of divine fruits again. Keep Christian word just as it was when Jesus gave it to humanity. This tree wants to spread its shade and fruits all over the planet. Never mutilate it nor corrupt it! Its tasty fruits should satiate starveling travelers, who want reaching the end of journey. Never hide its fruits. Never leave them rot.

Many are called but few are chosen because there are still monopolists and merchants of spiritual bread, as there are also traders of material bread. Never be one of them. Spread the tree fruits to everyone. Seek the hungry ones, take them up to the tree of life and share its shelter with them. Nobody harvests grapes from thorns. Flee from those who call you in order to show you only the thorns of the way. Pray for them! Follow those who lead you to the life tree shadow. These Christ's words will never die: Not all they who say: “Lord! Lord!” will enter into the kingdom of Heaven, but only those who do the will of God.

May the Almighty bless you. May Jesus illuminate you. May the tree of life offer you abundant fruits! Believe and pray. - Simeon. (Bordeaux, 1863.)

Do to others what you want that others do to you. (Matthew 7:12)
You'll know the truth and the truth will make you free. (John 8:32)
 
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A tree is known by its fruits
   

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