'My friend, how is it
that you came in here without a wedding garment?'
Gospel:Matthew 22:1-14
Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people
in parables, saying,
"The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who gave a wedding feast for his son.
He dispatched his servants
to summon the invited guests to the feast,
but they refused to come.
A second time he sent other servants, saying,
"Tell those invited: "Behold, I have prepared my banquet,
my calves and fattened cattle are killed,
and everything is ready; come to the feast."'
Some ignored the invitation and went away,
one to his farm, another to his business.
The rest laid hold of his servants,
mistreated them, and killed them.
The king was enraged and sent his troops,
destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready,
but those who were invited were not worthy to come.
Go out, therefore, into the main roads
and invite to the feast whomever you find.'
The servants went out into the streets
and gathered all they found, bad and good alike,
and the hall was filled with guests.
But when the king came in to meet the guests,
he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment.
The king said to him, 'My friend, how is it
that you came in here without a wedding garment?'
But he was reduced to silence.
Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet,
and cast him into the darkness outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'
Many are invited, but few are chosen."
"The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who gave a wedding feast for his son.
He dispatched his servants
to summon the invited guests to the feast,
but they refused to come.
A second time he sent other servants, saying,
"Tell those invited: "Behold, I have prepared my banquet,
my calves and fattened cattle are killed,
and everything is ready; come to the feast."'
Some ignored the invitation and went away,
one to his farm, another to his business.
The rest laid hold of his servants,
mistreated them, and killed them.
The king was enraged and sent his troops,
destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready,
but those who were invited were not worthy to come.
Go out, therefore, into the main roads
and invite to the feast whomever you find.'
The servants went out into the streets
and gathered all they found, bad and good alike,
and the hall was filled with guests.
But when the king came in to meet the guests,
he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment.
The king said to him, 'My friend, how is it
that you came in here without a wedding garment?'
But he was reduced to silence.
Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet,
and cast him into the darkness outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'
Many are invited, but few are chosen."
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time A
Isaiah 25:6-11, Psalm 22:Rv.6, Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20, Matthew 22:1-14.
The Lord will destroy death and wipe away the tears from every cheek.
You have prepared a banquet for me in the sight of my foes.
There is nothing I cannot master with the help of the One who gives me strength.
The servants went out and collected everyone they could find, good and bad alike.
Accept the wedding garment
The generosity of God is amazing. He has arranged a wedding feast. He calls first the children of Abraham. They refuse and even persecute his messengers. Their city is destroyed – the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 is seen as the result of their refusal. The wedding feast continues and guests are needed. So the king sends messengers ‘to the ends of the earth’. He invites everyone including the Jews. His Church is open to all and all can enter by believing in Jesus as Son of God. When the marriage hall is full the king goes in and sees a guest without a wedding garment. He cannot stay. The king throws him out
Just because we are baptized and are Catholics doesn’t mean that we are fit for the wedding in the kingdom of heaven. We need to wear the wedding garment. God has invited us and has given us the gift of faith, which we profess. But we have to respond to it. We have the priceless gift of free choice. Of ourselves we can do nothing but we can choose to accept Jesus. He stands at the door and knocks. We have to open the door and allow him to come into our life. When we invite him in he doesn’t come alone. He brings the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will recreate us and live in us. When the Spirit lives within us we are clothed with the fruits of his presence. We experience a change of heart and a new mentality. Jesus becomes a real person who lives in us and dines with us. The Spirit clothes us with Jesus Christ and the characteristics of Jesus: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, humility, generosity and self-discipline and all the fruits of the Spirit. This is the garment that we must wear if we are to share in the wedding feast.
God’s generosity and our good fortune are unbelievable. Jesus is the Bridegroom and the community of those who have accepted him and love him is the Bride. Each of us is called to the divine intimacy which can only be described at present in terms of a wedding. The reality will surpass anything we can imagine – ‘no eye has seen, no ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man to imagine what God has prepared for those who love him’.
Have you been struck with excitement at your being invited to the wedding? Have you opened the door to Jesus as he knocks? Do you allow the Spirit to fill you with his fruits which are the garment we must all wear for the wedding of the Lamb? Is preparation for the wedding the dominant work of your life? Or have you many other interests which take priority?
Father, may I welcome Jesus each day into my life and share in the wedding of the Lamb.
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