Mark, My Words: October 11, 2020
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Late last year or early this year, you may have received a “Save the Date” postcard for a wedding that was to happen in the spring or fall. Most of these wedding got postponed, many until next year.
The Jewish people in the time of our Lord would not announce the date or time of a wedding until everything was prepared. Then they sent couriers out to say “Come on, it’s ready!” But we see in today’s Gospel that some guests kept on about their business, and refused to come.
So the King’s servants invite all new guests who stand for the sinners and the unclean people of the time—the very ones you’d never see at the King’s table. In this way, Jesus announces his message of transformation: God welcomes all to the banquet of love and new life. The banquet is the symbol of the lavish, abundant Kingdom of God which fills all our hungers and delights all our senses.
People have associated God’s kingdom with food for a long time—even ridiculing it as “Pie in the sky when you die.” (I think Jesus would enjoy that image!) But isn’t there just something so wonderful and comforting about picturing us all together, feasting at a magnificent banquet?
The hungers we have for good food and drink show us just a shadow of how much our soul is longing for God. The question is, are we willing to do what it takes to be a guest at that banquet? Because there is still a requirement to be prepared for the summons of God, by coming to the banquet wearing a wedding garment. As we hear in Colossians 3:27 - “To be clothed in Christ”.
If we recognize God’s invitation, then hopefully we will be willing to “change our clothes”—to go to God dressed in garments of repentance, humility, garments of humble sorrow for our sins and faults. Let’s go to the banquet dressed in garments of love and respect for God.