Father Gary’s Sermon

Inspired from Matthew 22:1-14

Proclaimed on October 9, 2005

A little girl went to church one Sunday morning, while her parents stayed at home because they felt tired. When the little one returned her father asked, “What did our pastor preach about this morning?” “I don’t remember it all,” said the child, “but I think his text was ‘Many were cold and a few were frozen.’”

Well, the little girl was almost right. The text in our Gospel reading this morning really reads, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” This is a tough lesson, but a very important one. So, let us take a look at this episode in the life of Jesus.

Today’s reading is the Parable of the Wedding Feast. On the surface it appears to be a bloody story, but upon further reflection it might be fair to ask, “Is this really about God’s anger and vengeance?” I don’t think so. I do not believe this is a story about God throwing a fit. Rather, I believe it is about God’s frustration at how often we insult God’s “grace.” The grace in this story is about a very benevolent king who was throwing a wedding feast for his son. Now every first century Palestinian Jew knew no greater time of celebration than that of a wedding procession and feast. Everything else yielded--even a funeral procession had to halt when a wedding party went by. Indeed, everyone who came in proximity of a wedding party was expected to drop everything else and join the revelry. Presents of wine, oil, and nuts were given by people along the way, while some even joined with lighted torches. It was a gala pageant of lights, vibrant colors, music and dancing. The jubilation would be continued at the sumptuous wedding feast where merriment was the order of the day, as well as the night. Even the pious rabbis were expected to put down their studies and add to the hilarity with their famous dry wits. It was not an event were “Many were cold and a few were frozen.”

This is the context for Jesus’ story. The wedding feast he was referring to was his ministry among the peoples. Indeed, early in his ministry some of the disciples of John the Baptist asked Jesus why he and his disciples ate, drank, and were merry, while they fasted and prayed. Jesus defended the behavior of his disciples, stating that it was the only proper thing to do while the bridegroom was among them.

Now, in the last week of his ministry Jesus was using this same image again, but in a different way. This time He was saying that with all of the wedding invitations that went out to all of the Lords and Ladies of the realm, meaning the religious and political leaders of that day, none accepted God the King’s invitation to his Son’s marriage, but instead slighted God in the very worst way. Not only had the nobility snubbed God, but also when the invitations were sent out a second time they not only refused them directly, but also even began to kill the servants of God, beginning with the prophets and ending with John the Baptizer. God the King therefore stripped these nobles of their wealth and property, and some lost their lives in the process. Then God the King sent his servants out again, this time to invite everyone and anyone to come to the wedding feast. Some were persons with meager status, many with none, but all were invited. As was common in those days, an invitation also came with special garments enabling all to be appropriately dressed for the celebration. We are told that many of these guests did accept the king’s gracious invitation, and came appropriately attired for the event. That is, . . . everyone but this one guest. This person accepted the invitation, but did not have on the proper attire. He came in singing, “Just As I am, without one plea” insulting the graciousness of the host! He was willing to accept the King’s gracious invitation, but he was guilty of rejecting the King’s clothing--here a symbol of the Divine Transformation of the Holy Spirit. This one was thrown from the feast into outer darkness.

Now how might this story translate to us two thousand years later? First of all, this story takes up a common metaphor that God used for himself in the Hebrew Scriptures and Jesus used for himself in the Christian Scriptures--that of a Bridegroom. Secondly, in this sense it calls to my mind weddings as they are celebrated in the Episcopal Church. We do weddings differently than they are done in other Christian traditions. Unlike many, marriage in the Episcopal Church is considered a sacrament. Indeed, marriage is the only sacrament in which the sacramental symbols are human beings. That is quite different from the other sacraments that use water, bread, wine, oil, and the laying on of hands as the symbols of God’s grace. In marriage the bride and groom are the sacramental symbols. The bride symbolizes the Church, while the groom represents Christ as the coming bridegroom. As they come together to make their vows to one another, what they are promising each other and all those present is that they will love one another as Christ loves the Church. Indeed, after the vows are exchanged the priest blesses them with a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit that they may be able to keep what would otherwise be impossible promises. In that way, any who look upon their relationship will be able to see in action the love that Christ has for the Church.

The symbolism, however, does not end there. If Holy Communion is a part of the service, something very special is added. The wedding brings its symbolism of Christ returning to claim his Church as his bride to its ultimate conclusion. Holy Eucharist takes on the symbolism of the Wedding Supper of the Lamb as it is relayed to us in the book of the Revelation. It is here that present history is brought to a conclusion as the Church and Christ are forever united. The Holy Eucharist takes on more personal significance in that the bride and groom present the elements of bread and wine for the service. In essence, the first thing they do as husband and wife is to share Christ with their family and friends. In essence, a wedding in the Episcopal Church is likewise no place where “Many are cold and a few are frozen.”

Adding to the significance of this parable, however, is the main purpose why we are gathering today as God’s Children. Today we are baptizing Ella Adams into the family God. Though she is too young to understand, today God too has invited her to the wedding of Christ to his Church. Standing in for her are her parents and godparents. They are making promises on Ella’s behalf. They are promising, along with the rest of us, to instruct her, as well as be examples to her of God’s wondrous love. Indeed, such is her wedding gown. She will be taught of her unworthiness and her need to be transformed by the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, we are promising to share in these promises. It is a highly celebrative event that will culminate with the Holy Eucharist. Through the waters of baptism and the bread and wine of the Holy Eucharist we are celebrating with and participating in God’s self-giving love. It is a special time to open us to the Spirit’s transformation. It is no time for those who may be cold and the few who may be frozen.