28th Sunday Ordinary Time
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Cycle A
- A184: Doesn't the King in the gospel story today (Matt 22:1-14) seem a little harsh, overreacting when people don't want to come to his party, and bad-tempered when they wear the wrong clothes?
- Strength for Everything
- Q340: In Matthew's parable of the wedding feast (Mt 22:1-14], the man who didn't have fancy clothes gets tossed out. Since when does God care how you are dressed?
- Q497: Why was the king in Matthew’s story (Matt 22:1-14) unkind to a poorly dressed person? Were not his servants told to gather “whomever they find” in the road?
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A184: Doesn't the King in the gospel story today (Matt 22:1-14) seem a little harsh, overreacting when people don't want to come to his party, and bad-tempered when they wear the wrong clothes?
We have to remember the "cultural conditioning" in this text, written at a time when there were kings and kingdoms. To refuse an invitation from the highest and most important authority in the land was nothing more than a rude "in your face" gesture. Moreover, it wasn't a question of not having the money to buy the "right" tuxedo or the "right" gown for the party. The tuxedos and gowns were provided free of charge by the king giving the party.
Clearly, the self-centeredness of the people refusing the invitation stands out. Business interests take priority in the lives of some of them. Others just ignore the invitation as unimportant. Still others slam the door in the messenger's face, or even abuse or kill the messengers. The vice of self-centeredness (pride) can and often does lead one to other actions much more evil and sinful. Now, all of these things – do you think they will escape the king's attention? Not!
Matthew was writing just five or ten years after the Temple was destroyed by the Romans. So the need to refocus on Jesus was essential. Was the King (Jesus) really coming back? Was it really necessary to live life as he proclaimed it? There is a very strong emphasis on Baptism in this story. Heaven is always described as a wedding banquet in the Bible, and the (white) garment was central to the baptism ritual, as it is to this day. Message: yes, the King is coming back; no, we will not be admitted to the heavenly banquet if we do not respond to the king's invitation and "wear" our baptismal garment - freely given by Christ the King.
Reflection: Today we are reminded that we are to wear our Christian dignity unstained for the rest of our life, to live the life of Christ! Have I goofed, sinned? Do I need to have my wedding garment cleansed by means of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (still another free gift from the King to help us make it to the wedding banquet)? Have I given my business or personal interests a priority in my life over the Sabbath commandment? What is my response to the daily invitation of Christ?
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When World War II broke out, Dr. William S. Butler of Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, felt duty-bound to join the Army Medical Corps. He was assigned to a post as remote as possible from his family and his native village - the steaming forests of New Guinea. Treating the wounded and victims of strange equatorial diseases was a good learning experience. But Dr. Butler and his outfit were not in a medical school. They were living right in the middle of a jungle war, constantly exposed to bombs and heavy artillery. The army physician learned there was only one real antidote to fright. "Prayer," he wrote to his college roommate, has aided us in many a ticklish moment and fortified our courage. I have said more prayers in the past months than in all my life. It gives one the needed push when spirits lag a bit, and takes the bite out of the shells and airplanes.
I wonder how men get along who are without religion of any kind. Personally, I don't believe that man exists. Please remember us in your prayers."
"....In Him who is the source of my strength I have strength for everything." (Philippians, 4:13. Today's second reading).
-Father Robert F. McNamara
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Q340: In Matthew's parable of the wedding feast (Mt 22:1-14], the man who didn't have fancy clothes gets tossed out. Since when does God care how you are dressed?
I think some of us have been appalled and dismayed (rightly so) at the lack of respect shown to our Creator and Redeemer by others who show up at Mass in wrinkled shorts and flip-flops, chewing their gum, and so on. The operative words are "show up" - - because that is about all they are doing, it would seem - - just fulfilling an "obligation" rather than desiring to participate fully in honoring and worshipping our Eternal King.
Something like that is going on in our Parable from Matthew's gospel today. Invitations to the wedding feast have gone out twice to specific people, and both times they were rejected or ignored. Finally he extends an invitation to everyone else. When the wedding feast takes place, there is someone there who just "shows up," who simply responds to the invitation without really wanting to be there - - otherwise he would have dressed properly for the occasion. So he gets the heave-ho.
I suspect just about everyone has just "shown up" at events we would really rather not have attended, but did so because it was "expected" (examples: recitals, open houses, etc.). However, salvation and eternal life with the King does not happen just by "showing up." Instead, there needs to be an interior change, a true conversion of heart, which makes itself known through the actions of each individual. The "wedding garment" in the parable refers to this interior change, this conversion of heart that is mandatory for entry into the eternal wedding banquet with the King.
KNOW YOUR CATECHISM! True interior conversion will show itself in truly Christian exterior actions (CCC #1435). This true conversion is a radical reorientation of our lives to God, although it may be a gradual growth and does not have to be a one-time event (CCC #1431). The response to Jesus' invitation to enter his kingdom requires not just words, but deeds (CCC #546).
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Q497: Why was the king in Matthew’s story (Matt 22:1-14) unkind to a poorly dressed person? Were not his servants told to gather “whomever they find” in the road?
I suspect that the first comparison people might think of when they try to “imagine” this scene, is the way some folks dress for Mass on Sunday. There are indeed poor people who cannot afford the latest styles, or sometimes even new duds. But we do not make an issue out of that; the clothes are clean, and we are just happy that they are there with us to worship with us as one family in Christ.
But this parable isn’t really about the “kind” of clothes people are wearing. The “wedding garment” is just a metaphor for something else that is going on. Our real focus needs to be on two other things: first, the Invitation to the wedding celebration; and second, our Response to that appealing offer.
Jesus wants all people without exception to be saved and share in the glory of God. So the Invitation goes out – first to some specially “chosen” people, and later to everyone. It is an offer to believe in Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God; to believe in his Resurrection; and finally to believe in the Gospel message. Except for a small remnant, the specially “chosen” folks did not accept the generous Invitation. So the Invitation was extended to everyone in the world!
But to receive the Invitation to believe does not guarantee admittance into the kingdom. This moves our focus to the second point – i.e., preparation is necessary. To pay “lip service” to our faith in Jesus, but not live out his Gospel message, is to miss what Discipleship is all about. There is indeed a demand placed on followers of Jesus. We are called to live the moral and ethical values that he embodied in his lifetime and in his teachings. The “wedding garment” in the parable refers to true discipleship rather than uncommitted membership.
KNOW YOUR CATECHISM! Words are not enough to gain the kingdom; deeds are also required CCC #546). In the language of metaphor, Christ is the “bridegroom” and we are the “bride,” united in the Sacrament of Faith: the Sacrament of Baptism (CCC #796).
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