Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.” ’ Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them.
The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests.
But when the king came in to meet the guests, he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. The king said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ Many are invited, but few are chosen.”
Gospel Trivia:
This is a rather strange gospel. A king throws a wedding feast for his son and sends his servants to invite guests. The guests refuse the invitation from the king (an unlikely occurrence since this is a royal invitation). Not only do the invited guests refuse, they kill the servants who invited them. The king is enraged and destroys the city of the murderers. Both the killing of the servants and the revenge of the king happen in a few hours.
Finally, the king invites everyone on the streets, but criticizes one who is not properly dressed and is sent out to the darkness. Would it have been better had he not attended the wedding in the first place?
This parable is actually two parables in one -- the first concerns the substitution of the unworthy guests, and the second is about the expulsion of the guest without the proper attire.
The message of the "first" parable follows that of the two previous Sundays: the people of Israel were the chosen people, but did not listen to the prophets sent to them (as symbolized by the servants who invited guests to the wedding feast). Instead, the Jewish people reduced faithfulness to God as simply based on strictly following the letter of the laws of Moses; and, worse, ignored the law above all laws, to love God and to love thy neighbor.
The Kingdom of God, says Matthew, are not for the rule-followers, but for those who love and forgive, care for the poor and widows, and works for justice for the oppressed. (For better appreciation of the meaning of the "Kingdom of God", click here.)
The "second" parable was probably added later on by Matthew and combined with the "first" one. It reflects the open and unconditional welcome of the early Church of believers from all nations. Still, it is not enough that one is baptized and becomes an "official" member of the church; the baptized also must perform the works of the true Christian.
Reference:
- Nil Guillemette, SJ, Parables for Today (Manila: St. Paul's Publications, 1987), pp. 98-101.
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