By Dan Miller, SAFL Program Advisor
Verse(s): “Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. …But when the king came in to meet the guests, he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. The king said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ Many are invited, but few are chosen.” – Mt 22: 1-2, 11-14
Reflection: It always bothered me that this man was brought in off the streets – INVITED – to attend the wedding, but was shown the door because he wasn’t wearing the right clothes. What I learned was that in those days, the “wedding garment” was a white tunic, given freely at the door to those arriving to wear at the ceremony. That means he REFUSED to pay respect to the king’s son by wearing the garment. “Many are invited, but few are chosen” – and the choice was his to make. Of course he’d be tossed out! What does the wedding garment really represent? Is it baptism or faith? You’d already be inside the church if you had those things, right? Anyone left outside would be someone who has not yet come to believe. If we look at our own church as the house of the marriage feast, we must be careful to clothe our hearts in Christ’s love. The wedding garment represents LOVE. The man tossed outside represents those with faith, yet had not love. He had enough faith to enter the banquet, but did not love the king or his son – illustrated by his refusal to wear the wedding garment – the garment of LOVE.
Faith Challenge: Let us be ready for Christ’s arrival at all times, wearing the white garment of love for Him on our hearts – ALWAYS! Love is what moves us to the sidewalk to help mothers and save their children. Meditating on 1 Corinthians 13 this week — the definition of LOVE — how can we be more loving to those around us?