In this story, the King is God. And His Son getting married is Jesus; marrying His Church here on earth - this means everyone, you and I included.
We are all invited to God's Kingdom, but many don't answer the call.
At the end of this parable there's an intriguing bit. The king enters the hall and sees a man not wearing wedding clothes. He is angry with him and gets him tied up and thrown out into the street.
Now this seems rather harsh treatment for someone not wearing the right clothes. Until we stop and understand Jewish tradition.
Jesus was talking to the Jews who understood very well that there are special clothes to wear at weddings. Almost every family had such special clothes in case they were invited to a wedding; even the poor would either have such clothes or borrow some. No one would dare go to a wedding without special clothes. Even more important, traditionaly the host of the wedding also provided special garments for those who did not have any, so they can borrow them for the occasion. So it was more offensive to the king for this guest to wear no garment.
This guest in the parable just did not bother; he showed disrespect to the king and his son; and was thus thrown out.
But how about us? What are our special clothes for our entry into God's Kingdom in Heaven?
Our wedding clothes are our good deeds here on earth. Whatever we do for anyone in need, however small, constitutes our wedding clothes.
It is just not enough to spend a lifetime on our knees praying, or going to church, if our deeds are far from what is expected of us as followers of Christ.
Jesus said, "Not everyone who calls me Lord will enter the Kingdom of God, but only those who do what my Father wants them to do". Matthew 7:21.
In other words ... action not words.
Thanx Colleen.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Interesting post.
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking a lot on Mathew 7 and what it means.
If Jesus paid the price for our sins, then what is the place works have in our salvation?
I'm certainly not a sola fide proponent, as I think many Scriptures passages trump sola fide as inconsistent and unbiblical.
And then comes faith. Faith, in Greek as in English, is the same root word for faithful. Now, being faithful without works is an impossibility, as it requires not only trust in Jesus, but a complete allegiance to Him and His ways and His kingdom.
These works, or the wedding clothes as you describe, is the way we can show our allegiance to the King.
Blessings,
Jose D. Pinell.
You raise interesting questions Jose. Is it enough to just believe in God and Jesus as His Son? Or are we asked to do good deeds as well as prayers? What of the people who spend their lives just in prayers? Hermits, cut off from the world and not in contact with anyone in order to do good deeds? Have they got it wrong? Or is their exclusion from the world spent in constant prayer enough to get them to Heaven?
DeleteIs Faith enough to enter Heaven? How much is needed? Some try as best as they can to believe and find some aspects of belief difficult. Are they culpable or are they forgiven for the amount of Faith they have - or been given?
I suspect only God has the answers to all this. We should at least try as best we can to please Him.
God bless.
No, no. The hermits do not have it wrong. They, too, can offer up little everyday, ordinary, "works". Ora et labora!
DeleteGood point Hand-Maid. You are right.
DeleteGod bless.
interesting commentsm especially because I have never thought that the wedding clothes were our good deeds-nice
ReplyDeleteYes Melanie ... we should do good deeds. As best as we can and as often as we can. Even small good deeds count.
DeleteBut then ... there are all the questions I raised in my response to Jose.
God bless.
This is really interesting, Victor, and the comments are, too.
ReplyDeleteA few years ago, my daughter's piano teacher teacher was dying and, when I visited her in hospital, she was in anguish. Her faith was very fragile and she felt that the Devil was tempting her at the final hurdle.
Without thinking, I told her that God would remember that she had always been faithful. I wondered where the words had come from but, still, they seemed to bring her a lot of comfort.
The strange this is that, at her funeral, the priest chose faithfulness as theme for his homily. It really made me feel that her hope had been fulfilled and, at the same time, God had taught me a lesson about our salvation.
God bless, Victor:-)
What a wonderful thing to say to that lady, Vicky. The Lord always provides us with what to say when we need it most. I have seen this often.
ReplyDeleteYes, no matter how often we may fail, the Lord remembers that we tried, as best we can, to trust Him and keep the Faith. When things are really bad for us, the mere thought that the Lord might help, however feeble and doubtful our thought, is a prayer proving that we still believe and trust in Him.
May God bless you, Vicky.
What an awesome blog! I can't wait to read EVERYTHING! God Bless and Keep you.
ReplyDeletePeace
Liam
Welcome Liam. It's so great to see you here. We look forward to your many visits and comments.
DeleteGod bless.
I like the way you have explained the wedding clothes...I've struggled with the man that was asked to leave. It does seem harsh.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, :“Faith without works is dead” -James 2:26
Thankfully, our “works” are very attainable. Our morning prayer should set our compass. “…I offer you my prayers, works, joys & sufferings of this day…”
Models for us to learn from include:
St.Therese of Lisieux, who’s spiritual life was rooted in simplicity, teaches us: “My way is all confidence and love. Her “little way” sent her to heaven (not to mention, this "simple girl" is a Doctor of the Church).
Mother Teresa of Calcutta : ordinary things with extraordinary love. How simple is that?
We find example in, our contemporary saint, St. Jose Maria Escriva – sanctification through ordinary work. With an emphasis on the word: ORDINARY. “…in the midst of the realities and interests of the world”.
We can all become saints! Are we not all called to become saints?
Have a blessed day, Victor.
I've struggled too with the man who was thrown out of the feast until the parable was explained to me about the clothes he should wear.
DeleteI still have difficulties with the prodigal son. It seems so unfair that the elder son who stayed with his father is treated so unfairly when the young son squandered a fortune and came back for more.
Thank you Hand-Maid for your well-researched and very helpful comments. I've learnt a lot from you here.
God bless you Hand-Maid.
Interesting questions! I do think prayer can be an action, perhaps the most important action of all.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Jose D. Pinell.
Indeed Jose.
DeleteGod bless.
Hi Victor! Love this! Too bad I didn't know you when you wrote this, but I guess the Lord wanted me to find out on my own.
ReplyDeleteI like your insight to the garments being our actions. Faith needs action to be true, so it makes a lot of sense.
How kind of you to lead me to your post here. You are such a good blog-friend. If we can't help each other, what the heck are we doing blogging??
Ceil
Thank you so much Ceil for your kind words. I really appreciate them. It is always great to see you visiting here and I am very grateful.
DeleteMay God bless you and your family.