Putting on Christ
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But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe. -Matthew 22:11
Jesus has been telling some challenging parables these past few Sundays. This week is no exception with the story that begins, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.” But the people who are invited not only turn down the invitation, but when the king sends messengers to urge them to change their minds, they beat up or kill the the messengers. The king, enraged, sends his troops to destroy them and burn down their village. Then he sends his slaves out to gather up whoever they can find to come to the banquet, whether they are of good reputation or bad, rich or poor, of high status or low. And the banquet gets filled right up!
End it there, and the story could be interpreted to imply that God’s kingdom is like an open invitation to whoever will come - not just for the usual suspects. It also implies that those who turn their back on the open invitation - or are hostile to it - will not like the consequences.
But then there’s this wierd little ending. When the banquet is in full swing, the King comes to mingle with all the guests. He comes across one man who is not wearing a ‘wedding robe.’
There’s very little information about any traditions about wearing specific wedding garments back then, so the meaning of this is unclear. But what is clear is that this man had not put on something that would have been expected by the king,perhaps as a sign of respect. The king seems pretty chill about it at first - he simply says to the man who has committed this apparent wedding faux pas, “Friend, why are you not wearing a wedding robe?” I mean, he calls him ‘friend.’
But the man is ‘speechless.’ So the king turns and tells his servants to ‘bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Woah! what is with that, King? Didn’t you invite all kinds of people to the party - even those who perhaps did not have the money or the understanding to get an appropriate wedding robe?
My initial reaction upon sitting down to read this passage and write this blog was one of relief that the bishop is taking care of the preaching this Sunday! Then, upon some refelction, I’m hearing a similar theme to many of our recent Matthew readings told in yet another way. The kingdom of God is not just an open and free invitation to all into the vineyard to participate in stewarding the good fruits for the world, but it also requires the proper response. The first proper response is to say yes and show up. But then, our more active response is also needed. We need to show up with our whole selves to be a part of kingdom living, which requires participation and stewardship. It requires honest effort and our determination to learn what is being asked of us and then to actually follow through on doing it.
The story ends with a familiar phrase - “For many are called but few are chosen.” You could see this as meanting that only those whom God picks, using whatever criteria God has for picking, are the ones that are allowed the kingdom. But this little part about the wedding robe makes me think that perhaps we, too, are participants in the choosing. God may invite all, but we have to choose to say yes and then choose to serve and give. We have to give away all our own possessions and choose, as Paul used to say, to put on Christ.
This Sunday you’re all invited to our special visitation Sunday with Bishop Rob. We’ll have confirmations during the service, and I hope, an abundant potluck brunch spread out in honor of his visit. Please choose to both show up and contribute something if you can.
