son. He sent his servants to call the invited guests to the banquet, but the guests
refused to come. Again, he sent other servants, instructing them to say to the
invited guests, ‘I have prepared a banquet, slaughtered my fattened 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 his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is 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 streets and gathered
all they found, good and bad alike, so that the hall was filled with guests.
The king came in to see the wedding 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 hands 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.”
READ: Isaiah describes the lavish banquet that God has prepared for the
faithful who will spend eternity in his kingdom. In God’s kingdom, sadness,
hunger, pain, and death no longer exist. But until we get to the heavenly
kingdom, we, like Paul, must learn to live with conditions of want and plenty,
sorrow and joy. These trials prepare us for the wedding banquet of the king
to which all are invited.
REFLECT: When I was young, I found it hard to understand why anyone would
pass up the chance to go to a wedding banquet. After all, what’s not fun about
a huge party with family and friends, good food and wine? As I grew older
and my responsibilities increased, the time, energy, and expense required by
such an event began to seem too much and began to sympathize with the
people who declined the king’s invitation.
But God’s invitation to the wedding banquet of the Lamb is far more precious
than other invitations. We are invited to dwell with God forever, on his holy
mountain. Responding to this invitation is not easy. It requires preparing our
hearts through conversion, penance, and acts of loving service.
PRAY: Lord, make me worthy to sit at the banquet of the Lamb.
ACT: Invite a friend to share a meal.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2023