A reading of the holy Gospel according to Matthew 22:1-14
Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and 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 he 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 guests, he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. The king 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: 'My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?'
The ad said, "Everything you need to plan a wedding that's totally you, from "yes" to "I do".
Collecting addresses, managing RSVP's, meeting with vendors are all part of planning a wedding. When we all get together for the wedding banquet feast, all the efforts we put in finally pay off. Many friends, family and acquaintances arrive in their wedding best.
It is the beginning of a new life and a new future filled with our hopes and dreams. A lot of work and effort are put into a wedding because we want it to be successful.
In today's gospel we contemplate our final future: the eternal joy of heaven. Our Lord presents the Parable of the Wedding Feast to which we are all invited to spend eternity in the Kingdom of God. We can freely accept or reject God's invitation. Do we need months and years to prepare for the Kingdom of Heaven or can we be part of the festivity at the very last minute?
What an honor to be included in the guest list. But with this honor comes the responsibility to come properly dressed in the love and life of Christ. What is the wedding garment needed to enter the Kingdom of Heaven? What are the means to seeing the Face of God, to be eternally present to God?
Our Lord Jesus is our means, our mediator, the sacrament and our Holy Communion. Only He will bring us to God and the glory of Heaven.
We all have that capacity to say, "No", to God, to choose malice over good, to be indifferent, to be unloving, uncaring, selfish, worldly and lukewarm. We all have the freedom to reject grace.
Immediately after death we will be judged according to our works. May all that Christ has taught us, shown us and shared with with us make us worthy to enter the House of God.
Spend time before the Blessed Sacrament, united with the Breathe Jesus Prayer. May Jesus be the center of our lives. May we fix our eyes on Him, who loves us and paid the price for our final invitation to the heavenly Banquet.
Say, "Yes" now to your future.
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