Jesus compares the Kingdom of God with a wedding feast. Nevertheless, the Gospel cautions us that accepting or rejecting the invitation is a personal decision, and God does not force anyone. There were several guests who declined to attend, believing they had more important or better things to do.
No one thought the wedding was sad or boring, but instead, they simply “did not care”. The reason we distance ourselves from the love of God and of people is not out of malice but rather out of a desire for our own security, comfort, and pleasure.
When our options are to pursue profits, pleasures, and hobbies that make us happy, we fail to recognise God’s call. We would assign time for all other activities – for our work, socializations, leisure trips, meals, games — but not for the Church, prayer and the Word of God because we do not care.
Furthermore, when everything depends on the self, we become rigid and evil. The invited guests were so self-centred that they insulted and even killed those who brought the invitation (v. 6).
However, even in the face of constant rejections and refusals to his invitations, the king goes on; he does not postpone the feast. He continues to invite and include even more people. Despite injustices and rejection, God responds with greater love. In spite of our “no’s” to his invitation, God continues to take the initiative time and time again. That is how love works; that is how evil can be defeated.
The Gospel emphasizes one final point: the guests’ dress code, which is indispensable. The answer to an invitation implies that we must put on the clothing, we must develop the habit of living love every day. One cannot say “Lord, Lord” without living according to God’s will (cf. Mt 7,21). We need to clothe ourselves daily with his love and renew God’s choice every day.
We have received in Baptism the white robe, the bridal garment for God. Let us ask him for the grace to choose and wear this dress daily and keep it clean.
Father Josekutty Mathew CMF
Claretian Publications
bibleclaret.org
