Parable of The Wedding Feast

BEADS OF JOY 08-18-16

“Parable of The Wedding Feast”

©2016 James Dacey, Jr. OFS

My Friends,

Today’s Gospel: 

Matthew 22:1-14 (Parable of The Wedding Feast)

“And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a marriage feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast; but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, `Tell those who are invited, Behold, I have made ready my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves are killed, and everything is ready; come to the marriage feast.' But they made light of it and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, `The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the thoroughfares, and invite to the marriage feast as many as you find.' And those servants went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. "But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment; and he said to him, `Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, `Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen."

Reflection:
This rather simple story about a wedding feast is actually; two very complicated stories about the original guests and the ones without an invitation who ended up being invited. Making this Wedding Feast, one to remember. But we need to keep in mind that Jesus is telling us this parable, as a story and He began it like this: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a marriage feast for his son,” A very simple interpretation for us there. Almighty God is having a Feast for His Son Jesus and we have all been invited. With all of my many years of being part of three Catholic Charismatic Prayer groups the first thing that comes to mind with today’s gospel is this song:

I hope that helps set the tone and you felt good singing that most incredible song. God invites each and every one of us to His Heavenly banquet so that we might celebrate with Him. Yes, like this story, many in this world will completely ignore His invitation and few will come. See in the first part God reached out to His chosen and biblically they refused Him over and over and over again. You can read all about that in the Old Testament. It wasn’t until the New Testament that it became part of the second part, of this invitation Wedding Feast story that got directed towards the rest of us. Do you see now how this story comes together? Through Jesus Christ we are called, we are invited.

Both the Good and the Bad have been invited, the “sinners” aka “the Gentiles”; an invitation of Grace, underserved, but most certainly kind. God invites each of us, unworthy and with sin; but through the death and blood of His Son we have been chosen to be at His Banquet to celebrate and share the love and Joy of God’s Son. This invitation is an awesome responsibility one we must take seriously. Remember how Jesus ended this story, “For many are called, but few are chosen."

LOVE YOU GUYS !!!!

Your brother in Christ Jesus 
And His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr OFS