THE Gospel of Matthew says 22:15-21: Jesus went on speaking to them in parables: “This story throws light on the kingdom of heaven: A king celebrated the wedding of his son. He sent his servants to call the invited guests to the wedding feast, but the guests refused to come.
Again he sent other servants, ordering them to say to the invited guests, "I have prepared a banquet, slaughtered my fattened calves and other animals, and now everything is ready. Come to the wedding!" But they paid no attention and went away, some to their fields, and some to their work. Others seized the servants of the king, insulted them and killed them.
In the first part, God invites us to a banquet where there is a place for everyone. All through history he has been sending his prophets to preach justice, the mercy of God and trust in him. The Jewish nation, however, did not heed God’s call through these prophets and now will pay even less heed to Jesus. God’s plan will not fail. He will send his apostles to preach the Gospel in foreign nations (go to the crossroads) so that non-Jews, too, may enter the Church. Some Jews, however, the selected few among so many called, will be the first members of the Church.
The king celebrates the wedding of his son, Christ, who deserves to be called “the bridegroom” of humankind (Mk 2:19), because he has become one body with it. All throughout history the Risen Christ gathers together mortal an divided human beings. The Spirit of God will transform and raise them from the dead, so that they may sit at the table of the living, according to the parable.
The only table of Christ that Christians usually know is the Eucharist. While taking part in it, we must not forget what has been said above. Our meeting in the Mass should remind us that God calls us to prepare, in our daily lives, for the banquet reserved by him for all humankind. Ours is the task of uniting and reconciling all people.
What if we do not answer? Then, little by little, the life of the holy and universal Church will be withdrawn from our assemblies of comfortable Christians, and others will be called to take charge of the work of God: invite to the wedding.
The second part of the parable points this out: You, Christians, who are already inside the Church, do you wear new garment – a life of justice, honesty and trustworthiness?
Let us not believe that the surprised guest who was not properly dressed for the occasion was some kind of poor person. No, for it was customary during those times to supply all guests with the robe they should wear at the banquet. This one could have put on the robe but did not, so he had nothing to answer.
Many are called (v. 14). Some are disturbed upon reading this: does it mean that only a few persons will be saved?
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