In Isaiah we are given a vision of the great feast to come, when God will wipe away death forever. In Jesus’ parable about a great banquet, those invited do not come, so the invitation is extended to others. In our liturgy God spreads a table before us. Even amid anxiety and hardship we rejoice in the peace of God which surpasses all understanding. With great joy we feast at the table of the Lord, and we go forth to share the wonderful invitation with others hungering and thirsting for the abundant life of God.
Readings
Isaiah 25:1-9
The feast of victory
Psalm 23
You prepare a table before me, and my cup is running over
Philippians 4:1-9
Rejoice in the Lord always
Matthew 22:1-14
The parable of the unwelcome guest at the wedding feast
Worship Themes and Music
At first glance, today’s parable from Jesus appears to be about the all-encompassing grace offered to us in Jesus Christ. Yet, by the end of it, we can’t help but feel sorry for the guy who was invited at the last minute but is subsequently thrown out for wearing the wrong clothes. Perhaps the message here is that grace comes at a cost: in receiving it we are to be changed forever and our outward actions show it. The clothing we wear may not matter, but what we do in response to the amazing grace we’ve been offered shows others the goodness that comes from God.
This week we sing that great hymn Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness; singing of the banquet founded by the grace of God and the mandate to allow it to fully change who we are. The children also call us to feast on this amazing grace as they sing Let Us Go Now to the Banquet.
Reflection Questions
Allowing God’s grace to change us fully can be a scary prospect. Perhaps you happen to like your former life!
To continue to live into God’s grace, what do you need to let go of in your own life?
How will this free you to live more fully as a child of God?
