We have a lovely gospel this weekend.  A little context about today’s parable may be helpful before looking at the parable itself.  Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem, cleansed the Temple, and as a result, been questioned by the Scribes, the Pharisees, and the Sadducees.  They try to discredit our Lord’s authority.  In response, Jesus delivers three parables.

Today, we hear the third of the three parables – the king’s wedding feast for his son.  The king wants to honor his son by giving him a marriage feast.  To do so, he sends out two sets of invitations.  The first is a “save the date” to guests that there is going to be a feast.  It is a great privilege and honor to be on the list.  Once everything is ready, the king sends out another invitation.

Unfortunately, one by one the guests begin making excuses.  Evidently, they do not recognize the king’s status, the solemnity of the occasion, or the honor of being invited.   In each case, the cares of temporal life – farming and running a business – have taken precedence over the celebration of the feast.

Worse, what began as an insult turns into outright rebellion.  The king’s servants are mistreated and killed.  In this way, we are reminded of how the wicked tenets mistreated and killed the servants and the son in last weekend’s parable.

Eventually, the king finds those who are willing to respond to the feast.  They are found in the most unlikely places – the main roads or thoroughfares.  Both the “good” and “bad” alike are brought into the wedding hall.  Finally, once in the hall, we hear what happens to the man who is unprepared for the feast.  He is cast into the darkness.

A couple of things strike me as noteworthy in this parable.  First, we get a glimpse of the generosity and patience of God.  If we identify the king as our heavenly Father, despite all the resistance and excuses that people make, He continues to call people to the feast.  

Our heavenly Father does not take us by force.   Instead, He invites and respects our free will.  Even when people say “no” to Him, He continues to call.  He invites people to the feast until they draw their very last breath.

For our part, we can imitate God by inviting others to Mass, which is the way we participate in the wedding feast of heaven.   The Mass is a foretaste and a participation in the wedding of banquet of heaven.  We prepare well for the wedding feast of heaven by participating in Mass.

Unfortunately, for some of our brothers and sisters, the temporal cares of the world take precedence over God’s invitation.  “No thank you, we have soccer practice.”  “Sorry, we’ll be at the cabin or will be on vacation this weekend.”

While such excuses can be disheartening, like God, we must never tire of inviting!  Mother Teresa once said, “God has not asked me to be successful.  He asked me to be faithful.”   While we cannot control how people respond, like Mother Teresa, we can be faithful to God’s invitation.

Second, we can prepare well by making sure that we keep our wedding garments clean.  In the parable, some see the wedding garment as a symbol of our baptismal garment.  When we were baptized, we received a white baptismal garment.  It is no accident that at a funeral, when the coffin is brought to the baptismal font, the family puts the white funeral pall over the casket.   It symbolizes the deceased’s baptismal garment received in baptism.  The baptismal garment must be kept clean (or white) until the day one dies.  

My prayer for you is that each day you will say, “Yes, Lord, I accept your invitation to the feast.”  Prepare well by inviting others to the feast, where with our Blessed Mother and all the saints, there will be rejoicing, gladness, and Jesus, the Son, will be glorified.  And prepare well by keeping your baptismal or wedding garments clean throughout your life!
                                                         ~St. Thérèse, pray for us!