Matt. 22:1-14 (NRSV)
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Chapter 22Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: Verse 2"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. Verse 3He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Verse 4Again he sent other slaves, saying, 'Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.' Verse 5But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, Verse 6while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. Verse 7The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Verse 8Then he said to his slaves, 'The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Verse 9Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.' Verse 10Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. Verse 11"But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, Verse 12and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?' And he was speechless. Verse 13Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' Verse 14For many are called, but few are chosen."
Devotion
The king invites everyone, both good and bad – which tells us those invited have done nothing to obligate the king to invite them. This is how God is. God invites us to celebrate God’s joy, not our accomplishments. We’re invited to celebrate God’s work, not to bemoan our failures.
Some would say this is a naļve attitude. To celebrate denies the reality of all that is not right with the world, to be insensitive to those who struggle and suffer and die every day.
According to Karl Barth, the cross inserts the word “nevertheless” over all hope-destroying moments in life. Your job is a burden? Nevertheless, praise God. The children are sick? Nevertheless, join with God in celebration. People are starving? Nevertheless, feast on God’s blessing. Live each day not in the shadow of all that robs you of life, but in the bright light of God’s unconditional promise to love you.
Prayer
O God, our light, our joy, our peace, you have promised to love us. We hold you to that promise. Because there are times, Lord, when there seems to be nothing about us or about our lives that is lovable. We hold you to your promise to hold on to us. Amen.