Hello. A blessed Sunday to you all.
Our Gospel for today seems to leave a big question in our minds. At first reading our thoughts go to the man who was asked to attend a wedding banquet and yet way thrown out into the darkness because he did not have on the proper attire.
We all know that were are “dress codes” which are appropriate in society. When one is invited to a “Black Tie Affair” it does not mean that one wares a “black tie”. The dress code is that of a tuxedo.
But as we know, the parabolas of Jesus contain a great deal of truth, which is woven into the story. It is obvious that Jesus is not giving hints to the Temple leaders about proper dress when they are invited to a wedding. There is a deeper meaning of why the man was expelled from the banquet. The Canadian pastor, Chelsey Harmon puts it this way, “God’s calling to a new life in Christ does not end with the invitation to faith. It ruins deep and wide, transforming our living, breathing, everyday walking around existence. Those who accept the invitation will find that along the way to the wedding banquet of heaven, they will put on the ways of our faithful Saviour.”
Pastor Harmon goes on to tell us “When we accept the invitation from God, heed the message of His servants, we respond with obedience to the will of the
Father in heaven. To do so is to clothe ourselves with righteousness – the appropriate attire for the things to which we have been called by God.”
Our call to follow Jesus is just not where we go to worship on a Saturday afternoon or on a Sunday morning. It requires us to totally reform ourselves, to as St. Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans “To cloth yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ”
In responding to the call that God gives us, we are called to transform ourselves, to “cloth” ourselves in the “wedding garment” of heaven.
Nowhere in the Gospels did Jesus tell us that following Him would be easy. He told us from the very beginning, “Pick up your cross and follow Me.”
This Gospel story give us much to ponder during the week. Maybe we may begin to “cloth” ourselves with our own new wedding garment. We may not be ready to buy one, but maybe we can check out the various sizes and colors they come in???
Peace and All Good,Fr. Vinnie, osf and theBros and Srs of the Franciscan House of Prayer.
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