10.15.20 - Parable of the Marriage Feast and the Man with the Wrong Garment

Context of Today’s Isaiah Reading

Let’s test your memory: Isaiah was a prophet to the Southern Kingdom of (Judah) from 742 to about 700 BC, which was also during the time the Northern Kingdom of (Israel) fell to the (Assyrians) in 722.

If you recall, the Book of Isaiah is divided into three sections. Today’s reading from Chapter 25 is from First Isaiah.

Context of today’s reading: This reading speaks of a feast on Mount Zion (Jerusalem). There were four historical feasts, given at the king’s expense, recorded in Jerusalem: David gave a feast for the people of Israel when the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem; Solomon gave a feast when the Temple was completed/dedicated; King Hezekiah and King Josiah also gave public feasts.

Because they were held at the Temple, all these feasts on Zion were liturgical celebrations led by David or one of his descendants, either celebrating the Sanctuary or the Passover, which was also a sacrifice to the Lord. However, the feast Isaiah writes about is none of these. He writes about a future feast, a future Jerusalem.

Isaiah 25:6-10

And the Lord of hosts shall provide for all peoples on Mt. Zion,

a feast of rich food and choice wines, of fat things full of marrow,

of wine on the lees well refined.

On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples,

the web that is woven over all nations; he will swallow up death forever.

The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face;

the reproach of his people he shall take away from the whole earth;

for the Lord has spoken.

On that day it will be said:

"Behold our Lord, for whom we waited, and he will save us:

This is the Lord for whom we looked,

let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation!"

For the hand of the LORD shall rest in this mountain.

Where are the similarities with the feasts of the kings of old?

• Where did Jesus, descendent of David, conduct his feast and sacrifice? Mt. Zion (Jerusalem)

• When did this take place? Passover

• Like David’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple, this was also a renewal of the Jewish Sanctuary

• Jesus’ was not a single feast, but a perpetual feast – at his own expense.

Psalm 23: 1-6 (a Psalm of David)

Let’s compare to Jesus and the new covenant…

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing. (Jesus – the good shepherd)

He makes me lay down in green pastures (same words as the feeding of 5000)

beside restful waters he leads me; he restores my soul (baptism restores our souls)

he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake righteousness (see parable below)

For though I should walk in the valley of the shadow of death (because of Jesus, death is no longer feared)

I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. (with Jesus, we do not need to fear evil)

Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. ( Jesus’ rod/protection, Jesus’ staff/find way)

You have prepared a table before me in sight of those who afflict me; (Last supper/ the Mass – daily or weekly feast/nourishment for heaven)

Thou hast anointed my head with oil; my cup runneth over. (fulfillment is God, not this world)

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Paul to the Philippians 4:12-13,19-20

Brothers and sisters: I know how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.

My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father, glory forever and ever. Amen.

Q: What is the essence of Paul’s message?

A: Beatitudes: "Blessed are the poor in spirit..."

This means a detachment from worldly things so they don’t control/dictate your life. Whether you have them or not is not nearly as important as if you have God or not. If you have God, then when you do have worldly things, you will only need them in moderation and you will use your means to help others.

Being God-centered instead of world/self-centered is being poor in spirit. And blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

Context of this week’s parable of the Marriage Feast (Matthew)

Just like last week’s parable and the week before that, Jesus is still talking with the chief priests and elders in the Temple. I have to believe there was other dialogue surrounding these parables. It’s hard to say which parable is harder for the priests and elders to accept. However, Jesus is making sure he is drawing as many scriptural connections as possible for their edification.

Matthew 22:1-14

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people

in parables, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared 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.”’

But they made light of it and went off, one to his farm, another

to his business, while the rest laid hold of his servants, treated them shamefully,

and killed them.

The king was angry and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers,

and burned their city.

Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding 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 as many as you find.’

The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found,

bad and good alike; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.

But when the king came in to meet the guests, he saw a there a man who

was not wearing a wedding garment. The king said to him,

'Friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?'

But he was speechless.

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.’

For many are invited, but few are chosen."

This parable falls in the hyperbolic category, because the behavior of the invited guests would be considered outlandish. Jesus’ hearers would recognize this as a strange story.

Q: Who are those “invited” to the Wedding Feast?

A: The religious leaders of Jerusalem, who should have been in the best position to recognize the Jesus as the Son of David.

Q: The King’s hall is eventually filled with guests both “good and bad.” What recent parable does this call to mind?

A: The Parable of the Weeds and the Wheat

The point of this is that the Kingdom of God is not simply a reference for the next life (heaven). It is a present reality, established already during Jesus’ ministry and currently manifested in the Church (all of us), which includes both saints and sinners. Q: What was the wedding garment that the one man failed to have on?

A: It may be helpful to refer to scripture for understanding this.

“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” (Isaiah 61:10)

Righteousness refers to God’s righteousness, not man’s. What did Jesus call us to do? Repent and Love. Repent means turning away from our self-centered existence and center our existence on God/Christ. Love means love your neighbor, which means kindness, forgiveness, service. Charity (“caritas”) is another name for this agape love.

So the man without the garment said “yes” but he did not do anything else. This is why saying you believe is not enough. God’s love is a verb.

Note also in Isaiah it is God who clothes his Bride in the Wedding Garment. This is a reminder that our holiness ultimately comes from God, not ourselves. The “repent” part of the equation is allowing the Holy Spirit to change us. The CCC thus states: The charity of Christ is the source in us of all our merits before God (#2011). Q: What was meant by: “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

A: Theologians appear unanimous that those who are “chosen” refers to everyone who wears the garment. That there are few is less clear but likely refers to the Jewish leaders at the time.

Conclusion

Today's reading reminds us to make a good examination of conscience. Are there “dirty rags” in our lives that we are holding on to? What is keeping me from letting God clothe us in his wedding feast garments? Perhaps a visit to the confessional or spiritual director is in order. (copied from liturgical source)