For many are called, but few are chosen

And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.'" But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.' So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen."

- Matthew 22:1-14

In yesterday's reading, Jesus was speaking to the chief priests and elders in the temple, those who had asked Him by what authority He was doing all He did in the temple at Jerusalem, following His Triumphal Entry. He told them a parable about a landowner, who planted a vineyard, dug a winepress, built a tower, and then leased it to vinedressers, and went away to a far country. When vintage time came, the owner sent his servants to receive the fruits of the harvest. But the vinedressers were greedy; they beat one servant , and did worse things to others that were sent to them: killing one, stoning yet another. The owner sent yet many more servants, and the vinedressers did the same to them. Finally the owner sent his own son, thinking the vinedressers would at least respect him. But the vinedressers reckoned that if they killed the son, they'd be free to take the whole vineyard for themselves. So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Jesus then asked the chief priests and elders, "Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?" They said to him, "He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons." Jesus replied: "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and give to a nation bearing the fruits of it. And whatever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder." The chief priests and elders then realized He spoke about them -- but they were afraid to do anything to Jesus there before the crowds in the temple, because they all thought Him to be a prophet. See The Wicked Vinedressers.

And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come." Jesus begins another parable, this time about a wedding feast. Let us consider what this wedding is; it is a covenant, a promise -- and in its fulfillment is union. To be invited to this feast is a gift of grace, but there are those who spurn the king's hospitality.

"Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.'" But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city." The king sends out yet more servants, not just inviting people to the wedding, but explaining the great joy to be had at this feast -- everything is ready. But still, despite its attractions and his graciousness, the people made fun of it, busy with their own interests and work, and couldn't be bothered. Again, the servants were mistreated terribly, even murdered. The king finally responds, and those people who so horribly spurn his grace are destroyed with armies, and the city is burned. This would recall to His hearers the Scripture passages in which cities are burned, those who spurned God's grace for their own selfish and evil practices, who treat strangers with exploitation and murder, and felt the judgment for doing so.

"Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.' So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests." The king is all prepared, this feast is ready for those who will participate, and take him seriously. My study bible suggests that the highways refer to the Gentile world. It notes that though the Apostles can't realize it at the time, this parable foretells the casting out of the unbelievers among those to whom Jesus is sent, and "the calling of the Gentiles into the wedding hall, the kingdom of God. God calls all peoples to salvation in Christ -- Jew and Gentile -- carrying forth the plan of salvation to all humanity." We note that now the wedding hall is filled with guests.

"But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen." But it's not enough just to show up for the wedding. My study bible says that the wedding garment is provided by the host. It says, "To be at the wedding improperly dressed indicates one who is uninvited or who, having been invited, rejects the host's hospitality. In the Church, the wedding garment is true repentance and righteousness -- the way of salvation -- gained only by the grace of God." What we can see from the parable is that it isn't enough just to show up, having been invited, but that one must also be prepared for this great union, properly ready and in full acceptance. The parable begins by speaking of the people of a king, and then extending invitation even to those from far and wide, but it ends with an understanding of how we as individuals come to God, to this great promised feast of union. And, of course, it speaks of judgment. "For many are called, but few are chosen." Above all, it teaches that we must not spurn this hospitality, nor take this great gift lightly, minimizing what it is, devaluing its joy and its reality. I have heard other commentary on the failure of the guest to speak when challenged by the king: he fails to come to the king and enter dialogue, relationship, prayer, even to defend himself. Perhaps he simply can make no defense. Perhaps he just fails to ask for mercy, thereby signaling the failure, once more, to appreciate or understand the grace of the host.

Jesus begins with the general, and ends with the personal. So often in His ministry, we read of His great acts of healing and feeding, His teaching of salvation and love and mercy, His care for the little ones. But in His actions, we always witness His relationship to the personal -- lovingkindness, compassion, care, and true charity of the heart, even in appropriate chastisement or rebuke in teaching. He lays His hands directly on the children, and takes time to teach a rich young man. He speaks directly to those whom He heals, and engages even outsiders to repentance. He calls out those who have been healed without making themselves known to Him, by touching the Hem of His garment. Even the multitudes He feeds are those who have followed Him for days, on whom He has compassion. He asks the question directly, "What do you want Me to do for you?" and draws out those who cry for His mercy. Everything in these gospels comes down to the personal, and this king clearly has a relationship to each one of us, despite the universality of the invitation: "Many are called, but few are chosen." When we read the parable of the wedding feast, it's important that we keep in mind the great graciousness of the host, the honor to which we've all been invited. Are we too preoccupied with our own lives, our own plans, the things we think are important? Can we recognized what is being offered to us, or do we spurn His grace? Let us consider the great joy contained in this invitation, the grace with which it's given, the immeasurable value in this union. Can we partake of this feast? Can we come properly dressed, taking love and joy and delight in what is offered? Let us be gathered together, dressed in the garment with which the king will dress us. Can we accept the gift, and partake of the feast to which we've been invited? Do we take the time to prepare and be dressed by the king? Or do we decide that our own ideas and projects are more important? It all comes down to our hearts, what we put there first, how we respond to the call -- even how we are dressed once we do. That garment is not ours to create, but ours to receive. Do we have ears to hear?