How do we understand the mercy of God? Today’s parable about the wedding banquet gives us some insight into God’s mercy, and our response to the gift we are given. It helps us to see how we are called to respond to God’s mercy, by living our lives in a way that we will be found worthy to enter the wedding feast.
The invited guests represent the leaders of the Jewish people- the ones who openly rejected the message of mercy and salvation that Jesus came to preach to the world. The gift of salvation was freely given, but because they chose to reject it, their end will be destruction.
In response to this rejection, the King sends his servants to gather whoever they can find, and invite them to the wedding feast. This is a clear parallel to what we read in Isaiah in our First Reading, when we hear of the Lord providing a feast for all nations on His mountain. It is a reminder to us that God’s mercy is meant for all, and that all are welcome to join in the wedding banquet in the kingdom of heaven.
How then, do we make sense of the man who is thrown out for not wearing a wedding garment? If God’s mercy is endless, how could this person suddenly be deemed not worthy to be present? The answer lies in the fact that God’s mercy demands a response. It is not enough to just show up, or to think that we can just keep living our lives in the exact same way as we did before we accepted the invitation to follow Christ. Our response is our conversion- our effort that we make to follow the ways of the Lord, and keep his commandments. It doesn’t mean that we have to be perfect, or figure everything out about the Christian life instantly. It just means that we need to do what we can to be faithful to God, and live in response to his love. If we make that response, we will be found worthy to remain at the marriage feast of the Kingdom of Heaven.
As we journey throughout this week, take some time to ask the Lord how you can better accept the invitation to discipleship, and the invitation to receive his mercy. Ask Him to show you how He is calling you to respond to his mercy, so that you can be found worthy to enter the wedding feast of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Steven Huber, CSB