A – Twenty Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Some fifty years ago when I was a nine-year-old, I remember racing Gerald. We ran with full abandon and approaching the finish line Gerald tripped and fell ripping his trousers. I looked on surprised since Gerald was not badly hurt but he had tears running down his face. “It will be fine, I am sure your mom can fix them,” I said. “No, it’s not that,” he replied, “these were new trousers my mother saved for and just bought so I can look my best at my First Holy Communion.” Gerald knew he was to look his best and he was crest fallen by what had happened.

In our Gospel reading Jesus continues to confront the Chief Priests and the Pharisees and to warn them, by means of the parable stories, to repent, as the Kingdom of Heaven is near. They on the other hand would only double down and begin to plan how best to entrap Jesus and take him out of the picture permanently. In the Gospel Jesus also speaks eschatologically – meaning that what is being spoken of points to the last chapter of time itself. The King who is God, invites the people of God, the chosen ones to come to the wedding feast – to the intimate covenant relationship where they would be His people and He would be their God. But they refused to do so, preferring to follow their own deviations and preferences. A second time the King would send his servants, as the feast was now set, and everything was prepared. But again, some ignored the invitation, and some turned murderous; so offensive was that invitation to them. The King was enraged and so destroyed both the murderers and their city. The servants went out a final time to invite both the good and bad alike and the hall was filled with guests. Here we understand that in rejecting Christ, the Messiah, the Pharisees were rejecting God’s invitation to reconciliation and so the invitation would now go out to all men and woman of every nation and tongue, both the good and the bad, the Jew and the Greek. Everyone would be invited to the covenant communion with God.

As in the parable, so in our time. All are invited but not everybody chooses to come. For some, their time is better spent entrenching themselves in the never-ending pursuits that this world offers. Others see that invitation as offensive – an afront to their sense of self.

But for us here today? Are we not fortunate to have responded to that invitation? Are we not blessed to be here at this eucharistic feast? And are we not blessed to have in our possession our own personal invitation to the feast planned for the end of time?

But, before we get too comfortable, Matthew has more to tell us. This is the parable within the parable, if you will. The King surveys his guests and sees one who is not properly attired. Approached by the King this man has nothing to say and so is quickly dealt with – hands and feet are tied, and he is cast into the darkness where there is wailing and grinding of teeth - this is the final judgement. An eternal separation from Jesus the bridegroom. An expulsion from the wedding feast. But what is this wedding garment that the man failed to put on? And why does he stand out from all the others who are described as both good and bad?

The one who comes without the wedding garment is the one who responds to the invitation but only on their own terms. Whose yes is conditional. This is the proudful one, the one who is unbending, stubborn of heart. The one in whom the soul remains unchanged by way of genuine repentance, good works and righteous living. This is the one who rejects God’s teaching in preference to his or her own wants, life philosophies, or notions of conformity. The one who knows better despite what conscience, or the church, or revealed truth has to say.

The acceptable wedding garment is the one sprinkled by the blood of the lamb. It is a garment of grace purchased only at the price of repentance for sin. It is a garment marked by a participation in the life of Christ which finds expression in Christian action, in works of charity, in prayer, in sacrificial love. A love willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of the kingdom.

The wedding feast is everyone’s destiny, but it is not a destiny that everyone chooses. For those that do, God will provide what is needed. He is the good shepherd, and we join the psalmist in proclaiming our trust in Him. And knowing our weaknesses we join Saint Paul in saying, “I can do all things in Him that strengthens me.”

I have a feeling my friend Gerald got in trouble with his mom for ripping his First Holy Communion trousers. His clothes were ripped, but His heart was right, since he wanted so much to be ready for his special day. Our wedding garments will undoubtably have rips too but we will be joyful as these are the tears that demonstrate a life well lived – a life fully surrendered to God.

Deacon Peter, Arlington, Massachusetts
October 15, 2023
Lectionary: 142, Isaiah 25:6-10, Psalm 23:1-6, Philippians 4:12-14, Matthew 22:1-14

A - 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

At some point in our lives, we have all heard the phrase, “don’t do as I do, do as I say.” We recognize these words as coming from someone who is arrogant, who knows what the right thing is to do, and yet is unwilling to do it. We all know and understand that it is insufficient to just speak words, no matter how wise or noble, or even well intentioned. At the end of the day, we judge the quality of a person not simply by their words, since these can come so easily, but primarily on what the person does - the results of those words put into action.

In our Gospel reading from Matthew Jesus presents two sons in his story. The one who first rejected the request of his father but then would change his mind and do as his father asked, and the one who spoke all the right words but would ignore the request to go out and work in the vineyard.

On first blush the immediate meaning of this story is very clear – that we are to respond to God our father, not just with our “yes,” but with our actions. This is simple to understand – we are to follow the ten commandments and live the beatitudes. We are to remain obedient to the church that Jesus established and perform the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.But there is more to this story for us to hear. This is not just a call to obedience and action; it is a call to repentance and reconciliation. It is a call to soften our prideful hearts. If we read the full chapter of Matthew, we know that this episode comes when Jesus has already entered Jerusalem and the confrontation with Chief Priests and Elders has begun. The anguished journey to the cross has started. Jesus has already cleansed the temple overturning the money changers tables, and the chief priests and elders have confronted Jesus and questioned his authority. Jesus responds with the story we just heard. In their stubbornness, arrogance, and self-centeredness the Chief Priests and Elders failed to recognize the monumental and pivotal moment in which they were living. The moment that they themselves awaited with devout eagerness. For in the broad sweep of history they were waiting for the Messiah, the future savior, a great warrior and liberator, the anointed one of God. They were waiting for a healing and a reconciliation with the God of the old covenant for themselves and for their nation. A reconciliation because the covenant marriage between God and his people had been despoiled by Israel’s own rebellion, unfaithfulness, adultery and moral separation. All eyes and hopes were on the messiah. This is what the prophets pointed to. And now the last of the prophets, John the Baptist, was heralding the arrival of this long-awaited moment and those best placed to recognize it were too stubborn and threatened to see it, while the tax collectors and prostitutes were stirred to respond to this call for repentance and reconciliation.

Pride is a stealthy opponent whether two thousand years ago or today. How difficult it is to sometimes take back our words, to admit what we have said or done was wrong or even sinful. Pride is a great shield we hold up, or a high wall we build that prevents the work of repentance. Pride stifles the joy found only in humility. It was pride that prevented the chief priests and elders from participating in God’s providential plan as co-workers in his vineyard. Jesus began his own earthly ministry by proclaiming, “The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news” (Mark 1:14-15.) Repent, turn back, soften the proud heart. We are to do the work that God has called each of us to do and pride can be the great preventor. This work is made manifest in a myriad of ways, and it must be made manifest. For as one writer would pen long ago, “Christian sonship makes Christian service imperative.”

So where are we in this story? The son who said no but then went about the father's business, as the tax collectors and prostitutes would do. Or the son who spoke sweet words but remained unmoved, proud, taken up with his own wants and needs, activities and distractions.

Tomorrow is the memorial of the Guardian Angels. Each of us is given a spirit of guidance, council, protection, and love. What better friend is there to ask for the strength and guidance needed to be the disciple that God calls us to be and helps us to become. With the help of our guardian angel, we will continue along our path of sanctification – not just saying what Jesus said but also doing what Jesus did and continues to do through each one of us.

Deacon Peter, Arlington, Massachusetts
September 30, 2023
Ezekiel 18:25-28, Psalm 25:4-9, Philippians 2:1-11 (or 2:1-5), Matthew 21:28-32