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
