XXVIII O.T. Is 25:6-10a; Phil 4:12-14, 19-20; Mt 22:1-14 

An older couple was being married. Both had lost their spouses to death and had grown children. The combined children sent out this wedding invitation in their behalf: “Phil, Richard, Karen and Allison, and John, Matt and Steve request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their Mother and Father. Because they are combining two households, they already have at least two of everything.  So please, no presents! Reception and garage sale immediately following the ceremony.”

There is no more hopeful event on earth than a wedding . . . at any age.  Jesus loved weddings. His first miracle was at a wedding. On one occasion he referred to himself as a bridegroom. So it is not surprising that at least one of his parables should feature a wedding.

In this parable one man showed himself not in the right clothes. Everyone else wore tuxes and evening clothes and he was in jeans. Does wearing the right clothes matter?

In his book, David Brinkley, A Memoir, Brinkley tells about coming to work for NBC in the 1940s. At that time, NBC considered itself the elegant network. The rule was that after 6:00 p. m., radio newscasters were required to read the news wearing tuxedos. Can you imagine that? Their radio audience couldn’t see the newscasters, but NBC management believed their attitude and presentation skills improved dramatically when they were properly attired.

 No wonder then why the church asks us not to come to church with beach clothes on. Because that would not make us properly disposed for the sacred mysteries.

In this parable the man came without proper dress not because he could not afford wedding clothes. Scholars tell us it was the custom in Jesus’ time for the host to provide free garments for all the guests. There was no excuse for this guest to be dressed inappropriately except for either ignorance or obstinacy. The attitude of the king indicates that it was the latter. His silence also provides added proof to this. The king didn’t cut him any slack: He said to his attendants, “Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

 This is a shocking text for many people. In fact, it is not about clothes at all. This text implies that there are certain qualifications for those who follow Jesus.  Many people today have heard the message of grace: “Jesus loves me, Jesus accepts me just as I am.  I’m saved. I’m headed to the Promised Land.” But that is only a part of the Gospel message. British bishop N.T. Wright comments: “We want to hear a nice story about God’s throwing the party open to everyone.  We don’t want to know about judgment on the wicked, or about demanding standards of holiness, or about weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

 He goes on to say, “[Jesus’] love reached [those who were invited to the feast] where they were, but his love refused to let them stay as they were. Love wants the best for the beloved.”

  “Actually,” he continues, “nobody really believes that God wants everyone to stay exactly as they are. God loves serial killers and child molesters; God loves ruthless and arrogant businessmen. But the point of God’s love is that he wants them to change. He hates what they’re doing and the effects it has on everyone else and on themselves too. Ultimately, if he’s a good God, he cannot allow that sort of behavior, and that sort of person, if they don’t change, to remain forever in the party he’s throwing for his son .

          “The point of the story is,” continues Bishop Wright, “that . . . God’s kingdom is a kingdom in which love and justice and truth and mercy and holiness reign unhindered. They are the clothes you need to wear for the wedding. And if you refuse to put them on, you are saying, you don’t want to stay at the party . . . .” . God loves us as we are, but God expects us to clothe ourselves with the character of Jesus Christ. 

 Just like the man who showed disrespect to the host by coming in inappropriate garments, the invitees who did not show up at all were offensive and culpable.

We may sometimes find ourselves in either of these camps.

When we don’t show up or don’t come prepared to meet the Lord, then we are like those who turned down his invitation to the wedding feast. Our excuses may run like this: We need our Sunday recreational times. We have to work. Sunday is the only time we have to spend with our family (and apparently we don’t want to spend it in worship). Sunday is the only day we have to sleep in. I would get up early to pray, but I have a busy day ahead and need my rest.  My spouse is not supportive of my faith.  I know I should read the Bible, but television is more entertaining. I can’t serve the Lord because my kids are active; I have to take them to ball game practice; and I want to share all these times with my kids, perhaps when they are older.

When faith becomes a compartment of life instead of life's vibrant center, when we are squeezing God in between everything else- we miss the party, or poorly dressed.

A legend tells the story of a fisherman called Aaron. Aaron lived on the banks of a river. Walking home with his eyes half-closed one evening after a hard day's work, he was dreaming of what he could do if he were rich. As he walked his foot struck against a leather pouch filled with what seemed to him to be small stones. Absentmindedly he picked up the pouch and began throwing the pebbles into the water. "When I am a rich man," he said to himself, "I'll have a large house". And he threw another pebble into the river. He threw another one and thought, "My wife and I will have servants and rich food, and many fine things". And this went on until just one stone was left. As Aaron held it in his hand, a ray of light caught it and made it sparkle. He was not throwing ordinary stones but valuable gems, throwing away the real riches in his hand, while he dreamed of unreal riches in the future." This legend summarizes our situation. The value of the Kingdom of God is before us if we will but realize.