Matthew 22:1-14
1 Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’ 5 But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them.
7 The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ 10 Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, 12 and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”
"Many are called, few are chosen.”
Jesus continues to teach using parables.
Our recent parables deal with a variety of messages.
Last week’s deals with the plot against the son of the vineyard owner where the people erect themselves as owners instead of respecting their status as tenants Mt. 21:33-46.
The week before deals with if the two sons respect their father and do what they say Mt. 21:23-32.
The previous week deals with God offering us the grace to be partners in His own vineyard any time He calls us, expecting us to respect His right to distribute His graces as He wishes Mt. 20:1-16.
This Sunday, the Gospel deals with people’s refusal of the Son that was sent by the Father.
Today’s parable is composed of four sections.
1. God perseveres in His Goodness as He invites the people to the banquet.
Messengers are sent to invite the people to join the banquet, but they ignore the invitation.
2. He sends more messengers, but the people insist upon refusing and present shallow apologies.
3. They announce an open invitation to all people. The refusal of Israel is described in St. John's Gospel, “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…" John 1:11-12.
4. Correct and decent dress is appropriate and respectful for the banquet. Many claim to be Christians, but are they in reality true believers in his Name that live according to His teaching and model of life?
Giving the grace of being invited to the banquet imposes a commitment to apply the Savior’s teaching to your life.
Let us think about how committed we are and how faithful we are to our commitments in a time where commitment, contentment and faithfulness are at risk of falling from the scale of values and priorities.
May our appropriate dress, which is our commitment, be shown in our daily interactions. “…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” Mt. 5:16.
"Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” Revelation 19:9.