“My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?”
How do the people in the parable respond to the invitation to go to the feast?
How do others and we respond to the invitation to the wedding feast?
Group One – those who ignored, mistreated and killed
“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.” This group was destroyed. When do we turn away from the invitation of God, especially the invitation to Mass? What are we turning away for? In these lessons it has been explained that this is taking place at this wedding feast and this wedding feast in the Mass is a foretaste of the wedding feast of heaven. What possibly could be more important? In the parable the people ignored and went away for “farm” and “business,” today we ignore and turn away for entertainment, sports, work, etc. The feast is far more important than “farm” and “business,” but the people do not feel this way. Can the Mass compare to anything else we could do? Is Mass equal to entertainment, sports, and work? Some ignored the wedding feast. The rest however actually mistreated and killed the servants of the King. There are many people in our society that choose to ignore the Church and the rest actually mistreat and persecute the Church. Who are the servants of the King in our time? The Pope, Bishops, priests and in fact any of the faithful are the servants and in many cases when these people send out the invitation they are captured, mistreated and even killed through martyrdom.
Group Two – Those who filled the hall
“The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests.” These guests responded to the invitation and were welcomed. It is important to note that both the bad and the good are welcomed. The bad of course will not stay bad, but rather will be reconciled and brought into communion at the feast. We see the generosity of the king (God) through the invitation; we see the generosity of the people (us) by our response of filling the hall. Our generosity is in response to the generosity of God. This is the group that we want to be in.
Group Three – Those reduced to silence
There is a third group, which is represented by a single person. “My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment? But he was reduced to silence.” This third group, this person reduced to silence, summarizes all of salvation History and points to the eternal wedding feast, completely experienced in heaven. This person reduced to silence is the one who has been given grace and virtue but rejected it. This person is called “my friend.” He therefore knows the king and what the king offers but does not do what the king asks.
“Our heavenly King has confided, to the ministers of His love, the work of calling from every people the new guests. But now that His ambassadors, according to His command, have traversed the whole earth, bringing together all nations for this day of joy of His heart, He Himself is coming in person, to see that nothing is wanting to the due preparation for the feast, and to give the signal for the eternal banquet for the divine nuptials. Now, for such a feast, and in such a place, if there be any deficiency, it can only be on the part of the guests. Let them, then, be careful not to draw down upon themselves, in this general and last examination, the displeasure of the great King, who has called them to an alliance with Himself. Though He has condescended to call them, not withstanding their extreme poverty, from the public streets and highways, He has given them abundant time to lay aside their tatters; and knowing that they could not get ready of themselves, he has placed at their disposal, for the marriage-feast, the richest garments of His grace and virtue. Woe, then, to him who on the last day shall be found not having the wedding garment of charity! Such a want would admit no excuse; and the King would justly punish it, by excluding the guilty man from the feast, as one that had insulted His Son.” [1]
God is patient with us by giving all the necessary time to put on the garment of salvation. He has given them abundant time to lay aside their tatters, to lay aside “farm” and “business” and to clothe us in Christ. We must as our first Pope, Saint Peter says; consider this time as the patience of God and as salvation itself. “Therefore beloved, since you await these things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace. And consider the patience of our Lord as salvation…” (2 Peter 3:14-15)
It was said above, “that His ambassadors, according to His command, have traversed the whole earth, bringing together all nations for this day of joy of His heart.” The Churches call us to invite others to the wedding feast. This is why the missionaries of the Church have risked their lives traversing the whole earth. This map shows that this evangelization is important to all religions. The map also shows the success of this Christian evangelization.
Not only has God called us to heaven, but knowing that we cannot get our self ready for heaven, He gives us everything necessary go on this pilgrimage. If we do not take advantage of “everything necessary” then we will be judged accordingly. A child might be invited to a birthday party, but might be too young to pick out the correct clothes from his wardrobe. The mother picks out the clothes for him and sets them on his bed. It is the child’s responsibility to get himself dressed once the clothes have been set out. Let’s say the child chooses to run around in his pajamas all morning and gets distracted by other things. The child will not be ready for the party and the mother might even say, “Because you did not get dressed, you are not going to the party.”
What are the garments the clothes that God sets out for us? How does the King clothe us? We could think of the Church as the wardrobe from which God gives us the necessary garments. There are many examples of the garments (gifts) that the king gives us. In the Rite of Baptism we are given a white garment and expected to wear it and keep it spotless. During the reception of the white garment in the Rite of Baptism the following is said.
Celebrant: [Child's Name], you have become a new creation, and have clothed yourself in Christ. See in this white garment the outward sign of your Christian dignity. With your family and friends to help you by word and example, bring that dignity unstained into the everlasting life of heaven.
All:Amen.
The person in the parable did not arrive at the feast wearing clothed in garment. What if we arrive in heaven with a dirty garment or no garment at all? We will not be welcome in heaven. To put on the garment is to put on Christ, the garment is our dignity and we must respect that dignity in our self and in all the baptized. Those that are not baptized, we want to let them share in that dignity by putting on Christ and becoming a new creation.
We are without excuse if we do not clothe our self or in the case of our baptismal vows remained clothed. Without this garment we are like Adam and Eve in the garden. We are naked in the garden of life and thus hide from God. Many times we can feel embarrassed when we are underdressed or not dressed appropriately at an event. When need to ask our self regularly if we are underdressed or not dressed with the spiritual garments we have been given.
What are other examples of the garments God gives? The garments are any grace and virtue offered by God. All of the Sacraments, the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity, the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit, the prayers and liturgy. The wardrobe is full and the garments are plenty. We are without excuse if we arrive at the end of our pilgrimage not wearing these garments. Saint Augustine says that even the readings and songs are necessary. “The readings your hear each day in church and the hymns you hear and sing. All these are necessities for our pilgrimage.” [2]
[1] Abbot Gueranger, OSB; The Liturgical Year; Vol 11
[2] Catechism of the Catholic Church; Section 2837