A Parable for the Church

A man and twelve children came to the gate of the town. The man called out to the people of the town that the children were cold and hungry.

The minister of the town gathered up the town fathers and with great excitement...they decided to build a wonderful table for the children to eat on...why of course...we must have a table to sit them at and feed them!

The minister told the man to bring the children back in three days and a feast would be prepared on the grandest table ever!

The man returned to the town gate in three days but only eight children were with him. He pleaded for the people to let the children in to eat and have shelter!

The minister gathered the town fathers and they decided to build a grand roof over the wonderful table! It would be a roof with the finest materials and the greatest painters would make a ceiling of beautiful art works...we must have a roof over the table in case of rain!

The minister told the man to return in three days and the children would be served a feast on a grand table.....under a grand roof of masterful works!

The man returned in three days with only three children....the man begged for the towns people to let the children in...feed them...shelter them from the cold.

The minister gathered the town fathers again and they decided that walls must be built...oh yes! Great walls with stained glass windows! We must have walls to protect them from the cold winds!

The minister told the man to return in three days for a feast in a grand building with a wonderful table...masterful art works and colorful windows.

The man returned in three days but was alone. He stood at the gate and waited for the whole town to gather.

The minister proudly opened the gate and humbly welcomed the man inside while speaking of how everyone so enjoyed preparing the wonderful building for the children.

The minister asked the man to go get the children.

The man hung his head and told the minister that all of the children were dead.

The man turned and began walking away from the town gate.

The minister cried out,"Please...please...at least tell us their names that we might honor them with great art works"!

The man, without looking back...shouted, "The children of humanity!"

The minister shouted again,"What is your name?"

As they heard the thunders of legions...the man turned with a look of wrath and said,"Jesus."

THIS IS DEDICATED TO THE HOMELESS....THE HUNGRY....ALL WHO ARE IN NEED OF COMPASSION.