October 9th - Reflection

17th Sunday After Pentecost
Matthew 22:1-14 (NRSV)
The parable of the unwelcome guest
Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. 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.' But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, 'The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.' 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.

"But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?' And he was speechless. 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.' For many are called, but few are chosen."

Reflection
So what's the deal with this wedding garment? You invited me off the street, what's the deal? I wouldn't have set foot inside this place if I knew you were going to make such a big deal about what I was wearing. And to bind me and throw me back out on the street! How could you?

We come into the presence of God in our dirty, smelly, clothing of sin. God knows this. God doesn't expect us to be clean and well clothed when we come to him. If we even believe we are clean and well clothed we are suspect. Maybe we don't understand that it isn't myself or anyone else that makes me clean and well clothed, but it is God that does this.

Why did you or I come to this wedding feast of God? Did we come for the fun of it? Did we come because we thought it would be a free meal and a fun time? Or did we come because we were invited?

We have been invited to a special feast. We come filthy yet humble and penitent. We come, knowing that we don't deserve to be in attendance, but that God has invited us in. Not because of how we looked or acted, but because he has loved us and invited us.

This attitude of love and thanksgiving in humility is the wedding garment that God expects us to be clothed in.

Some of the first invited were just too busy to come to the feast or there were so many more important events to attend. God doesn't want us to come in wedding garments such as these. God wants us to wear the wedding garment of pardon and the wedding garment of a new life in Christ. A life that we come to in humility, thanksgiving, praise and honor to the God who loves us with all his heart.

That's the garment to wear. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, thanks for the invitation. I didn't deserve it. I come as I am, humble and asking forgiveness for my sin. I come filthy and dirty and smelly. I come knowing that only you can make me clean. Thanks for the invitation... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen