To be clothed in a Right Mind

Of all the parables I think this is the one I struggle with most as it really does sound rather violently judgemental! (Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost. Proper 23 [28]. Matthew 22:1-14.) But, starting from the perspective that the gospel is always ultimately the word of life we have some work to do in finding the life giving truth of this story.

 Sentence:

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philipians 4:8

Collect:

Gracious God,

Our source and our destination,

our beginning and our ending,

you call us to the banquet to sup with you

and all your beloveds.

Fill us with hunger for your good things

and the desire to grow in grace

until we are clothed in your gifts

and full of life and love. Amen.

Reflection:

This parable requires that we hold two apparently opposite approaches to the invitation to the wedding banquet simultaneously – which is quite a stretch! In the first half of the parable we have the expansive inclusive invitation to join the wedding banquet. (We at the progressive end of the theological continuum feel very comfortable with this!) And then the second half has the very confronting image of a guest who is judged and punished for his lack of appropriate clothing and punished for it!! (We progressives are not comfortable with this image at all!) So how do we work our way through the parable?

You may like to read a previous blog in which I look at some of the contextual background issues in Matthew’s community and in scriptural images of clothing.

The Right Clothing

Or with some further commentary on the nature of parables and this one in particular.

The Wedding Banquet

I think we can take home from this parable that we, and all others, are always being invited to the banquet. And there is a response from us that is required, or called forth, by the invitation. We are called in to a life of fullness and true righteousness. By true righteousness I mean (as does Paul) not simply moral correctness but compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience and above all love. Or as some have put it, grace is free but not cheap. We are not required to earn the love of God but inclusion should challenge and enable us to respond with the beginning fruits of the spirit for we are called to be loved into our fullness not mere survival.

And this parable keeps shifting scenes and detail which seems to resonate with real life for many of us. That is, our life does not necessarily proceed calmly and smoothly – even after choosing the way of faith – but we find ourselves in times of change and flux and must navigate the tasks of each stage. Faith does not only require decisions to live in certain ways and then serene sailing through fair seas but rather faith is about attending to the gifts and challenges, our needs and opportunities to care in each moment. What does compassion, kindness, love look like in this moment? And what does compassion, kindness, love look like in this next different moment or season?

This parable seems to reflect the tumult and showdown with authority that Jesus was facing at the end of his ministry and human life in Matthew’s account and many of us may feel certain connections at this time as we see some of those in charge treat our fellow humans with cruelty and disdain. So many of us are grappling with variations of the question “What is the right attire in this situation – how am I called to respond to this time?”

Even so, come Lord Jesus Christ, come call us to the feast to which all are called and help us to clothe ourselves in a right heart and mind. Amen.

Intercessions coming!