Isaiah beautifully describes the reign of God, using inviting images such as a feast of rich foods and choice wines. Paul takes a similar slant; his vision of God’s kingdom prompts him to give glory to God for being so generous.
We dream of spending eternity in such a heavenly setting but Jesus warns us not to take his invitation for granted. This parable was his way of telling his critics that many people had already rejected the prophets’ call to repentance. But God wasn’t about to cancel the banquet. To the contrary, now the invitation to this feast was being extended to everyone. “Go out, therefore, into the main roads, and invite to the feast whomever you find,” the servants were told. This they did, gathering up many guests, good and bad alike.
Among all the guests who filled the hall was one who was not dressed in a wedding garment. “My friend,” the king asked, “how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?” When the guest could provide no excuse, he was cast into the darkness outside.
If this outcome sounds strange to you, try dining at some fancy restaurant that requires a coat and tie and if you have neither, the maître d’ would gladly provide you with one. In biblical times, guests who came improperly attired were offered wedding garments. For some reason, this guest, even when given the chance, chose not to wear one.
The issue here is not an article of clothing, but the meaning behind the garment. As the saying goes, clothes make the man. Wearing purple and gold, for example, sends the loud message to anyone at Husky stadium that the person with such colors is an avid Husky fan. Many others are there to enjoy the game, but not necessarily to see the Huskies win, especially those who are wearing crimson and gray!
The point Jesus is making is that God is a generous host who has thrown open the doors of his kingdom to anyone who cares to come to the heavenly banquet: the good, the bad, and the indifferent. Many have declined his invitation for any number of reasons, so his servants then gathered anyone they could find. Here Jesus is telling the chief priests and elders that the Good News would now be shared with the Gentiles much to their consternation.
Being invited is easy enough, but staying is a different story. Perhaps you wonder how this host could be so heartless toward any guest. Recall that when he asked the ill clad guest why he came without a wedding garment, the guest “was reduced to silence.” He could offer no excuse. He had not one word to say in his own defense. His silence branded him as guilty beyond the shadow of a doubt.
Through the sacrament of baptism, we accepted God’s invitation to the heavenly banquet, but as the ousted guest learned, having the invitation in hand is no assurance that we will get to stay and enjoy the heavenly feast.
If you have witnessed an infant’s baptism, you may recall the words spoken by the celebrant after the baptism. “You have become a new creation, and have clothed yourself in Christ. See in this white garment the outward sign of your Christian dignity. With your family and friends to help you by word and example, bring that dignity unstained into the everlasting life of heaven.” In other words, we who are baptized are expected to arrive at the gates of heaven with our dignity unstained by sin as a sign that we are still wedded to Christ.
We cannot expect to be seated at the heavenly banquet unless we endeavor in our lifetime to live out our baptismal promises and reject Satan, all his works, and all his empty promises. When we sin, we are putting aside our wedding garment. We are no longer wedded to Christ. This parable addresses the reality that sin weakens our relationship with God. It is chancy for us to presume that when the moment comes for us to stand before God, we will be ready. As the news media points out too often, death can come when we least expect it. Think of those who recently lost their lives unexpectedly due to fires, shootings, earthquakes and floods. When that moment comes, will we be reduced to silence, unable to justify our actions or lack of actions that Christ expected of us?
By virtue of our baptism we are invited to receive Christ in the Eucharist every weekend, to be forgiven by Christ in the sacrament of Reconciliation, to be nurtured by his Word and to deepen our relationship with God through prayer yet many decline the opportunities to do so thus they will show up at the banquet with their dignity stained by sin. We may have our excuses for not attending Mass each weekend or not going to confession when guilty of a mortal sin, but will they suffice or will silence be our only response?
On the day of judgment, Christ will come into his banquet hall and spot the still unrepentant sinner or the still lukewarm believer in the crowd and say with initial sadness, “Friend, where is your wedding garment? Why are you still sinful, still refusing my love, still unrepentant, still cold toward me?” If he asked you any of those questions, would you be reduced to silence? What excuse could you offer for the times you have failed to love God and your neighbor?
As Jesus said, many are invited to the banquet but few are chosen, namely those who are clothed with love like Christ, bringing their Christian dignity unstained by mortal sin into the everlasting life of heaven.