Mt 22:1-14 (or 22:1-10)
1Jesus again in reply spoke to [the chief priests and elders of the people] in parables, saying, 2“The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. 3He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. 4A 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.” ’
5Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. 6The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. 7The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8Then he said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. 9Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ 10The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests.11But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. 12He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. 13Then 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.’ 14Many are invited, but few are chosen.”
Reflection:
Not dressed in a wedding garment. One guest is not properly dressed and is thrown out. Is this not a bit too much?
A wedding feast is not only about food and eating. We come to be one with people and to share their joy and success. We know their reasons for feasting, and we are among those reasons.
One of the “un-feastly” sights for the Lord, I believe, is when others are happy and we are at the corner grinding our teeth with jealousy and hoping that bad things happen to them soon, or when others are grieving and we are at the back grinning and clapping our hands, “Good for them!”
That is what not being dressed properly means. Indeed, the Lord will throw us out.
Cook and eat out tonight with your whole family, enjoying each other under the stars.