Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and the elders of the people in parables saying, “The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’ Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
Then the king said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guest she saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ Many are invited, but few are chosen.”
REFLECTION
"Many are invited, but few are chosen.”
“Many are invited, but few are chosen,” is a sobering statement. In school or work, all are invited to apply for enrollment or apply for a job. Many times we can be underqualified or overqualified. The reason for not being accepted might turn out to be our fault--either we honestly did not have the qualifications, or the interview reflected lack of energy for the new career.
Like the King in the parable of the wedding banquet, God calls everyone—without distinction—into His love, mercy, and eternal life. The invitation is generous, freely given, even to those who might feel unworthy or far from Him.
While the call is universal, the response is personal. Being “chosen” is not about God excluding some, but about whether we embrace His call with faith, humility, and perseverance. This truth is reflected in the life of Pope Pius X. Like a faithful servant invited to the King’s banquet, he chose to accept the role entrusted to him, in humility and love of Christ.
The “chosen” are those who clothe themselves in Christ—living out their faith in both word and deed. Whether one is called to lead the Catholic Church and its flock or we are called to do our daily chores, work, duties with no pride but in humility, love and a willingness to serve, it is our decision to accept to live out our faith in both word and deed.
Yes, we all receive the invitation to His banquet but we can still miss the feast if our hearts are distracted, indifferent, or resistant to conversion. Daily we prepare for the great banquet promised us and through God’s grace we can live as one chosen. When the Bridegroom calls may our answer be "yes" and our hearts reflect our love for Him.
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