Matthew 22:1-14
Grace peace and mercy from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
As most of you know my daughter was recently married and she wanted it to be a big deal with a nice reception that everyone could enjoy. Well as it turned out it was a huge success. Many of the guests commented on how much fun they had and how good the food was.
Leading up to the wedding was a little stressful for her and my son-in-law. His family is on the west coast, our family is on the east coast, and the wedding was in Chicago. Everyone had to travel to get there so it was somewhat of a burden for some of the guests.
As soon as the date was set and the list of guests compiled she mailed little notes to save the date, almost a year in advance. As plans were finalized they mailed out nice little invitations with RSVPs and addressed stamped envelopes. Sadly nearly half of the RSVPs weren’t returned. They had to contract for a specific number of people at the reception so there was a little anxiety about what to do. As the date came closer they decided to invite grad students outside their normal circle of friends.
As you see the parable of the Wedding Feast has an interesting parallel to our recent experience. I’m sure you may also suspect the parable goes much deeper than the recent earthly experience of our family.
The banquet in the parable is compared to the kingdom, a special allusion to the promised banquet of the messianic era. We and the religious authorities of the time easily pick up on who the King and the Son of the parable represent.
It was common for kings and notable people to throw wedding banquets for their sons. The guest list would at least contain other notable persons and likely the entire village or town. The guest list was extremely important and the holder of the banquet could be in serious peril for not inviting the right person, or for inviting the wrong person. Likewise refusing such an invitation was a grievous insult.
Records other than scripture indicate it was common to issue two invitations to both upper and lower classes. The guests were honored with the first invitation, and they appropriately responded with a promise to come. As with my daughter’s wedding logistics were an issue, the next village a few miles away could easily be a day’s journey. The first invitation helped the guests plan for the banquet. The second invitation informed the guests the meal was ready. Or in our day the exact time of the event.
In times past it was difficult to provide the exact time that the meal would be ready. A second invitation at the appropriate time was the norm. The lower a person's status, the more punctual the person was expected to be. Attendance at weddings was a social obligation. Attendance included the guests’ dependants whether they were local or living in another location.
Refusing to come to a banquet was considered a deliberate insult to the dignity of the king who has counted on their attendance and graciously prepared food for them. For all the invited guests to refuse to come would greatly shame the host and unanimous refusal especially with barely plausible excuses would be considered a concerted effort to deliberately insult the host.
For the king to graciously extend the honor of an invitation to a banquet and be rebuffed as if his gracious gesture was meaningless was a dramatic break from the social expectations of the time. The king could salvage some honor by finding others to attend the banquet. Of course the king could also salvage honor by punishing those who insulted his kindness.
Like the tenants of the vineyard last week the slaughter of the messengers was an act of revolt. The audience would naturally applaud the king's rage in the parable. The violent retribution of burning the city would be a realistic outcome based on events recorded in the Old Testament. The destruction of the city brings home the point that there is a horrible fate for those that insult the king.
It’s no surprise to think that anyone who dishonors the Son shames and dishonors the Father.
The parable and the actions of Jesus show that God seeks the lowly of this world who will humbly acknowledge his reign, because the arrogant often ignore God. Vengeance restores some of the King's honor, but to recoup it more fully the king must invite other guests who will accept his invitation, even if they are of much lower status than the first invitees.
The wedding garments worn at the banquet are clean. It would be an insult to arrive at the banquet in dirty garments worn in the fields or when tending livestock. All are welcome, and expected to wear the wedding garments. The clean garments of grace not only forgive but also transform. To remain at the banquet the wedding garments must be worn.
Brothers and sisters I’m here to tell you the feast is already prepared. The first invitation went out 2000 years ago from the cross. We don’t know when the second invitation will come but we need to be ready to respond to it and until then getting the first invitation into as many hands as possible.
The thing many don’t understand is that we are living invitations carrying the message of the first invitation. We have been provided the wedding garments at our baptism and are encouraged to keep wearing it through the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
As His children we already have a place at the banquet. God’s desire is for a full house every seat taken. As living invitations to the feast we are to be out there handing invitations to the good and the bad as described in the parable and in Jesus’ own actions. Our job is to hand out invitations not decide who gets them. Some will accept the invitation and wear the wedding garments while others will refuse the invitation. We don’t who will accept so we hand the invitation to everyone.
At the end of the parable the king finds a man without wedding clothes and has him cast out. I would not want to be that man, either because I didn’t get the invitation or because I refused to wear the wedding garments. I also don’t want to be at the feast and a witness to someone cast out.
Our task is clear through our actions and words the invitations must be delivered to everyone we meet.
In the name of our Risen Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
