Wedding Feast

Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again 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.’ But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless. Then 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.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:1-14

I have performed many wedding ceremonies in many different churches, venues and outdoor settings. The couples have been from humble and wealthy families. Weddings are not for the couple alone but for the whole community and family. And I have noticed that some guests only come for free food and alcohol, and hoping to find a new partner, perhaps. Yet no matter how humble or glamorous the setting, if everyone is there to support the couple and family, then it is a beautiful moment. We can spoil great moments with our selfish, childish ways. The hurts can be lasting. God invites us today to honor the people, the culture and the traditions of the places we have been invited.  God loves every clan and culture and every corner of this earth and our Creator is in the midst of us now.

Loving Creator, source of all the living

you have made us is our great diversity

yet we are fearful of others and deride them

hiding behind our sense of false superiority.

You set the table for every single human being

welcoming us from the four corners of the earth

drawing all people with your loving heart.

Let us be those who come dressed and ready.

Help us be those who make room for others. Amen.