Matthew 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
Répondez, s'il vous plait. Several months ago my family received an invitation to a wedding. What fun, we thought! We signed right up. As the day neared, however, new concerns started pressing in, demanding our time. Even as we wrestled with competing commitments, we did not want to send the message to the couple that some other concern was more important than joining their celebration.
How often have we sent that very message to God? Each day God invites us to come into the divine presence. Yet, many days, we tell God that some other concern has taken priority and we fail to show up.
Not today! Today we are here in God's presence, receiving the bounty that God prepared for us, expecting us. Today, may we be even more aware of all the blessings that God wants to share with us as we celebrate God's Son.
Prayer
Mighty King, how foolish that we would ever decline your invitation! Continue to invite us because we need to be with you, even when we forget our priorities—especially when we forget our priorities. Amen.