Thoughts for the Day

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, maltreated 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.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Today's reading reminded me of something. As a teenager I sang in Climping Church choir in Sussex but at the age of 17 joined the WRAF. Unexpectedly I was invited to the Vicar's wedding. As an ex-RAF Officer he decided to marry in the RAF's national church, St Clement Dane in London. It was the era of the mini-skirt and I was worried about what to wear, until I realised he would be expecting me to turn up in my best uniform.

The classic explanation of today's Parable of the Wedding Banquet is that the king is God, the son is Jesus, the invited guests are the Jews, the slaves who are attacked are the prophets, and the new guests are the Gentiles.

A wedding was celebrated by the whole community, who would know the day of the wedding, but would only get the time when everything was prepared. Jesus describes the Kingdom of Heaven as a Wedding Banquet - ie God had made a covenant, a binding oath, with Abraham and his successors. He had chosen them to be His people, but they had said "No!" Now he invitates outsiders, that is us, the Gentiles. As to the guest who wore the wrong clothing, well some experts think these are baptised Christians, who never grew in the faith!

Ultimately this parable is about a generous God who out of pure grace invites us into His Kingdom. We had no call on Him, we didn't deserve it, but He generously invites us in as His guests.

Heavenly Father,
we thank You that You called
the Hebrew nation to be Your people,
and made a covenant with them.
We thank You for the prophets
who guided Your people
even when their lives were threatened.
We thank You that You sent Your Son
as the Messiah to save Your people,
and when they rejected Him,
that You called us, the Gentiles.
May we never forget Your generosity
and continue to grow in faith.
Amen.