Week beginning 22nd October

 

Reading: Psalm 99, verses 1 to 3

The Lord reigns,
let the nations tremble;
he sits enthroned between the cherubim,
let the earth shake.
Great is the Lord in Zion;
he is exalted over all the nations.
Let them praise your great and awesome name—
he is holy.

Song: Great is Thy faithfulness

Prayer:

Song: Love Divine

Reading: Matthew’s gospel, chapter 22, verses 1 to 14

Song: Meekness and Majesty.

There is a stage production called “Peter Pan Goes Wrong”, which purports to show a production of Peter Pan by an amateur cast. The “production” is ruined by the amateurishness of the cast and their rivalries and jealousies. The result is hilarious.

Here we have the story of a wedding that goes wrong, but the results are anything but hilarious. It is a catalogue of extreme behaviour.

The King’s son is to be married. A time of great celebration, and the invitations are sent out. To the horror of all concerned, the invitations are refused. The guests would rather stay at home!

Does anyone refuse a royal invitation? Would you refuse an invitation to a royal party?

The King’s response is to push the boat out. The best chefs and entertainers are engaged, but the invitees are still unimpressed. The servant-messengers are seized, abused and even murdered. The King is at war - with his own people.

But the dinner is still on. He invites the common people, those who would ordinarily not get in to such a prestigious event.

At this point it is worth reminding ourselves that this is a parable, a story told to make a point. It is not an historical account of a real event.

Everyone comes in. They enjoy the feast. The party is going with a swing. Then, someone is discovered who is not properly dressed. Who would go to a wedding without making a special effort with their dress? Would you go as you were if you received such an invite?

“How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?” was the question asked. No satisfactory was received, and the man was not just asked to leave, he was thrown into outer darkness! He was effectively made a refugee, stateless and without status.

Matthew is recording Jesus’ warning against complacency and self-satisfaction. We are the beneficiaries of God’s most generous invitation, and must behave accordingly. The invitation is issued to all, good and bad, but there are standards. The clothes (or lack of same) is a metaphor for these standards. Standards in which we must be dressed in life.

The positive behaviour of people who have accepted God’s invitation is what is referred to. The King of heaven has invited us to his banquet, we need to put on our “party clothes”. We need to try to meet his standards, not just say yes and carry on as we are.

Song: Dear Lord and Father of Mankind