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 kingwho 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 roadsand invite to the feast whomever you find.’The servants went out into the streetsand gathered all they found, bad and good alike,and the hall was filled with guests.But when the king came in to meet the guestshe saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment.He said to him, ‘My friend, how is itthat 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
"But when the king came in to meet the guestshe saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment.He said to him, ‘My friend, how is itthat you came in here without a wedding garment?’"
How do you dress when you attend a wedding? Nowadays, it seems like anything is acceptable. Usually, on the invitation, there is a suggestion for the occasion. Here are some of the suggestions: Formal, black tie, means suit and tie and formal dresses;
Semi-Formal means suit and tie and cocktail dresses; Cocktail attire means suits and party dresses; and Beach or Garden party attire means summer suits and summer dresses.
In Jesus' parable, He talks about a wedding invitation for a King's son. The King himself sent out the invitations by way of a servant's hand delivery. The King had selected a specific group to invite, but they declined his invitation. He sent them a second invitation and they killed some of his messengers. Then the King tells his servants to invite anyone on the streets.
The people who accepted the invitation were sent the appropriate wedding garment to wear to the wedding. This was a custom in Jesus' time for the King to supply the garments. Therefore, the man that arrived inappropriately dressed was insulting the King by not wearing the garment he sent. The King sent him away into the darkness.
The King was offended, insulted, and felt that this person was disrespectful. The "I don't care" attitude of this guest was obvious to all the guests and host.
How do you think the King of Kings, Jesus Christ, who resides in the tabernacles of Catholic Churches feels when people come to his home without putting on their best clothes to visit? Even some priests forget that they are servants of the King of Kings and come to the altar before their God dressed in shorts or without the proper liturgical robes. Also, there are those who seem to have the appropriate clothing but forgot to take care to clean themselves, that is their souls, by going to confession.
These actions caused the pains Jesus felt during His agony while in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus is so in love with us that our disregard, our desertion, and disrespect for the sacrifice he made for us made Him sweat blood and agonize over the loss of so many souls.
Let us make reparation for the many people who do not attend Sunday Mass modestly dressed or who did not come clean and dressed to the Wedding Feast of the Lord
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