Little Hannah getting her wedding garment.
“My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?
In one of His many parables about the Kingdom of God, Jesus
tells of a king who invites chosen guests to His Son’s wedding banquet. When
those chosen people reject or ignore His invitation, some even killing his
messengers, the king became angry, destroyed the murderers, and extended His
invitation to others, good and bad, bringing all into the banquet.
This parable echoes the story of God’s invitation to His
chosen people through His prophets, many of whom were ignored, rejected, and
even killed. Because of the unfaithfulness of those chosen guests, the invitation
went out to the whole world. Yet, the guests must show the respect due to the
King’s Son: when a man is found to have entered without a wedding garment, he
is cast out.
We are those guests, the good and the bad, given the chance
of a lifetime to come to the wedding feast of the King’s Son. Can you imagine showing
up at such an event covered in mud, without making any attempt to wash up and
be presentable? Would any of us even consider going to a friend’s wedding
banquet in such a condition? But how often have we entered the Eucharistic
feast neglecting to first clothe ourselves in love, charity, kindness, and
purity?
Although God’s invitation is offered freely, we have a
responsibility to prepare ourselves to enter into the banquet. The Lord
provides the wedding garment Himself, clothing us in Christ at the moment of
baptism but He gives us the free will to accept or reject that garment. Even
when we fall into the mud again and again, He gives us the chance to cleanse
that garment throughout our lives in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We are
required to respond to the infinite generosity of the King by accepting His
invitation and preparing our hearts to be in His presence.
Be prepared for the great event. Don’t miss the chance to
enter into the joy of the heavenly wedding feast, clothed in the pure garments
of love.
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