MATTHEW 22: 1-14 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (AUGUST 20, 2020)
Jesus continued speaking to them in parables: “This story throws light on the kingdom of heaven: A king gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to call the invited guests to the banquet, but the guest refused to come. Again, he sent other servants, instructing them to say to the invited guest, I have prepared the banquet, slaughtered my flattened calves and other animals, and now, everything is ready. Come to the wedding!’ But they paid no attention and went away, some to their farms, and some to their work. Others seized the servants of the king, insulted them and killed them. The king was furious. He sent His troops to destroy those murderers and burn their city. Then He said to the servants, the wedding banquet was prepared, but the invited guests were not worthy. Go instead to the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding feast. The servants went out into the street and gathered all they found, good and bad alike, so that the hall was filled with guests, and he noticed a man not wearing a wedding garment. So he said to him, Friend, how did you get in without the wedding clothes?’ But the man remained silent. So the king said to his servants, bind his hand and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
POINTS OF REFLECTION
The Bible reading, captures the kingdom in heaven as a wedding celebration inviting guests to partake the banquet. The king hosted the celebration in due preparation hoping all would come and take their share of the banquet.
The king (God) uses his servants (disciples of Jesus) to call upon the invited guest (the chosen people of God) for whom the banquet was prepared but they refused to come for their personal concerns like farms, works and numerous earthly concerns. Some of them gravely harmed and even killed the servants (persecution) behind divine efforts of reaching all. No doubt God would be furious, knowing invited guests were not worthy.
As the king commanded his servants to invite everyone in the street, the door of heaven is widely open to all of us not just the perceived good but included as will those who are bad and sinners.
As the king came to notice a man not in a wedding garment, teaches us that the banquet in heaven does require changing of oneself fitting for the occasion. Brothers and sisters, if we turn into deaf ears about the call of salvation and do not change, will be thrown into a fiery furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth for eternity.
Finally, let us be reminded that heaven is preparing a banquet for all of us, God’s chosen people. The gate of heaven is about to be opened for those who are renewed befitting to the theme of the celebration for salvation and redemption. Befitting one through change is the toughest requirement in the banquet in heaven.
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Doctor in Development Education ( Dev. Ed. D.), an all time educator as School Head and HEI Instructor.
