Accordion Test

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Mike’S Page

28th Sun OT – Matthew 22:1-14

The Greek term used here for being “worthy” is axios, the word used when scales prove that two things are of equal weight.  Understood in this way, the king was saying that the first guests were not equal to the invitation, as if participation in such a banquet was too much for them.  But why?

To understand, we might look at Jesus’ own practice of celebrating meals.  Nowhere in the Gospels does it say that Jesus refused to eat or associate with anyone—in fact, people often criticized him for letting just anybody join in his company and table.  (My favorite is the passage of Zacheus who climbed the tree to get a better look at Jesus who invites Zaccheus down and invites himself to his home, and a Tax Collector at that.)

The Invitees’ responses could hardly have been more insulting to the King.  Some simply walked away, snubbing the invitation.  Others were bold enough to say, “I’d prefer to work my fields,” or “I have far more important business to attend to—there’s simply not time on my agenda for your celebration.”  (Or I have a sports event to attend that is more important, etc.)

Greeting the guests, the king came upon one who refused to put on the festive white robe of the others.  (The White Gown that we dress our babies for Baptism is a symbol of this white gown.)  Was this person a spy, a mocker, or just someone who wanted to demonstrate disgust for the king’s style of operation?  The one who refused to wear the white gown was unacceptable precisely because he was unaccepting.  He effectively banished himself from the environment the king had created.

A great irony here is that it was the king’s presence that gave the celebration its unsurpassable importance.  Those who shunned the party effectively made themselves unfit for the company of the king.

The addition of the man without the wedding garments has puzzled many.  Surely his fate was unfair?  The church of Matthew was a mixed group of good and bad.  The bad had not achieved greater righteousness, had not produced in their lives the fruits of the kingdom to which they were called.  The man without the wedding garment represents Gentiles who had come into the church after the refusal of those originally called.  But they failed to meet the obligations that went with the invitation.  His fate of weeping and gnashing of teeth was also the fate of the sons of the Kingdom who found their place at the feast in the kingdom taken by many from the east and the west.  It expresses dramatically the lot of those excluded from the kingdom.

I would like to end with two thoughts.  The first thought was mentioned at the beginning, “Nowhere in the Gospels does it say that Jesus refused to eat or associate with anyone.”  Wouldn’t this still apply today?  Jesus would never turn down an invitation to eat with anyone, especially non-Catholics.  He might have to sit through a long homily on the Gospel of Prosperity, but at least he would leave having a free coffee latte.

The second thought is this, if Jesus never turned down an invitation to a meal, would he approve of us turning away people simply because they dressed wrong?  The Gospel mentions that the King expected the guests to be properly dressed for the wedding.  What about the Eucharist?  Norms for society change throughout the centuries on how we dress.  I believe that anyone who comes to the Eucharist should not be refused because of how they dress.  Who knows, it may be the only dress in their wardrobe.

At Bapatism, “You have become a new creation and have clothed yourselves in Christ.  Receive this baptismal garment and bring it unstained to the judgment seat of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that you may have everlasting life.”  As a symbol, the importance is in what it symbolizes, putting on Jesus Christ.

28th Sun OT

As a followup to my talks on Prayer, below is an example of Birdwatching as a form of prayer.

Enjoy!

Spirituality of Birdwatching

And, trying it with a sidebar:

Mike’S Page

28th Sun OT – Matthew 22:1-14

The Greek term used here for being “worthy” is axios, the word used when scales prove that two things are of equal weight.  Understood in this way, the king was saying that the first guests were not equal to the invitation, as if participation in such a banquet was too much for them.  But why?

To understand, we might look at Jesus’ own practice of celebrating meals.  Nowhere in the Gospels does it say that Jesus refused to eat or associate with anyone—in fact, people often criticized him for letting just anybody join in his company and table.  (My favorite is the passage of Zacheus who climbed the tree to get a better look at Jesus who invites Zaccheus down and invites himself to his home, and a Tax Collector at that.)

The Invitees’ responses could hardly have been more insulting to the King.  Some simply walked away, snubbing the invitation.  Others were bold enough to say, “I’d prefer to work my fields,” or “I have far more important business to attend to—there’s simply not time on my agenda for your celebration.”  (Or I have a sports event to attend that is more important, etc.)

Greeting the guests, the king came upon one who refused to put on the festive white robe of the others.  (The White Gown that we dress our babies for Baptism is a symbol of this white gown.)  Was this person a spy, a mocker, or just someone who wanted to demonstrate disgust for the king’s style of operation?  The one who refused to wear the white gown was unacceptable precisely because he was unaccepting.  He effectively banished himself from the environment the king had created.

A great irony here is that it was the king’s presence that gave the celebration its unsurpassable importance.  Those who shunned the party effectively made themselves unfit for the company of the king.

The addition of the man without the wedding garments has puzzled many.  Surely his fate was unfair?  The church of Matthew was a mixed group of good and bad.  The bad had not achieved greater righteousness, had not produced in their lives the fruits of the kingdom to which they were called.  The man without the wedding garment represents Gentiles who had come into the church after the refusal of those originally called.  But they failed to meet the obligations that went with the invitation.  His fate of weeping and gnashing of teeth was also the fate of the sons of the Kingdom who found their place at the feast in the kingdom taken by many from the east and the west.  It expresses dramatically the lot of those excluded from the kingdom.

I would like to end with two thoughts.  The first thought was mentioned at the beginning, “Nowhere in the Gospels does it say that Jesus refused to eat or associate with anyone.”  Wouldn’t this still apply today?  Jesus would never turn down an invitation to eat with anyone, especially non-Catholics.  He might have to sit through a long homily on the Gospel of Prosperity, but at least he would leave having a free coffee latte.

The second thought is this, if Jesus never turned down an invitation to a meal, would he approve of us turning away people simply because they dressed wrong?  The Gospel mentions that the King expected the guests to be properly dressed for the wedding.  What about the Eucharist?  Norms for society change throughout the centuries on how we dress.  I believe that anyone who comes to the Eucharist should not be refused because of how they dress.  Who knows, it may be the only dress in their wardrobe.

At Bapatism, “You have become a new creation and have clothed yourselves in Christ.  Receive this baptismal garment and bring it unstained to the judgment seat of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that you may have everlasting life.”  As a symbol, the importance is in what it symbolizes, putting on Jesus Christ.

28th Sun OT

As a followup to my talks on Prayer, below is an example of Birdwatching as a form of prayer.

Enjoy!

Spirituality of Birdwatching

And in a 2-col content area:

Mike’S Page

28th Sun OT – Matthew 22:1-14

The Greek term used here for being “worthy” is axios, the word used when scales prove that two things are of equal weight.  Understood in this way, the king was saying that the first guests were not equal to the invitation, as if participation in such a banquet was too much for them.  But why?

To understand, we might look at Jesus’ own practice of celebrating meals.  Nowhere in the Gospels does it say that Jesus refused to eat or associate with anyone—in fact, people often criticized him for letting just anybody join in his company and table.  (My favorite is the passage of Zacheus who climbed the tree to get a better look at Jesus who invites Zaccheus down and invites himself to his home, and a Tax Collector at that.)

The Invitees’ responses could hardly have been more insulting to the King.  Some simply walked away, snubbing the invitation.  Others were bold enough to say, “I’d prefer to work my fields,” or “I have far more important business to attend to—there’s simply not time on my agenda for your celebration.”  (Or I have a sports event to attend that is more important, etc.)

Greeting the guests, the king came upon one who refused to put on the festive white robe of the others.  (The White Gown that we dress our babies for Baptism is a symbol of this white gown.)  Was this person a spy, a mocker, or just someone who wanted to demonstrate disgust for the king’s style of operation?  The one who refused to wear the white gown was unacceptable precisely because he was unaccepting.  He effectively banished himself from the environment the king had created.

A great irony here is that it was the king’s presence that gave the celebration its unsurpassable importance.  Those who shunned the party effectively made themselves unfit for the company of the king.

The addition of the man without the wedding garments has puzzled many.  Surely his fate was unfair?  The church of Matthew was a mixed group of good and bad.  The bad had not achieved greater righteousness, had not produced in their lives the fruits of the kingdom to which they were called.  The man without the wedding garment represents Gentiles who had come into the church after the refusal of those originally called.  But they failed to meet the obligations that went with the invitation.  His fate of weeping and gnashing of teeth was also the fate of the sons of the Kingdom who found their place at the feast in the kingdom taken by many from the east and the west.  It expresses dramatically the lot of those excluded from the kingdom.

I would like to end with two thoughts.  The first thought was mentioned at the beginning, “Nowhere in the Gospels does it say that Jesus refused to eat or associate with anyone.”  Wouldn’t this still apply today?  Jesus would never turn down an invitation to eat with anyone, especially non-Catholics.  He might have to sit through a long homily on the Gospel of Prosperity, but at least he would leave having a free coffee latte.

The second thought is this, if Jesus never turned down an invitation to a meal, would he approve of us turning away people simply because they dressed wrong?  The Gospel mentions that the King expected the guests to be properly dressed for the wedding.  What about the Eucharist?  Norms for society change throughout the centuries on how we dress.  I believe that anyone who comes to the Eucharist should not be refused because of how they dress.  Who knows, it may be the only dress in their wardrobe.

At Bapatism, “You have become a new creation and have clothed yourselves in Christ.  Receive this baptismal garment and bring it unstained to the judgment seat of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that you may have everlasting life.”  As a symbol, the importance is in what it symbolizes, putting on Jesus Christ.

28th Sun OT

As a followup to my talks on Prayer, below is an example of Birdwatching as a form of prayer.

Enjoy!

Spirituality of Birdwatching

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