What It Means to Be Chosen

THIS WEEK’S GOSPEL: MATTHEW 22: 1-14 (MESSAGE)

Jesus responded by telling still more stories. "God's kingdom," he said, "is like a king who threw a wedding banquet for his son. He sent out servants to call in all the invited guests. And they wouldn't come! He sent out another round of servants, instructing them to tell the guests, 'Look, everything is on the table, the prime rib is ready for carving. Come to the feast!'

"They only shrugged their shoulders and went off, one to weed his garden, another to work in his shop. The rest, with nothing better to do, beat up on the messengers and then killed them. The king was outraged and sent his soldiers to destroy those thugs and level their city.

"Then he told his servants, 'We have a wedding banquet all prepared but no guests. The ones I invited weren't up to it. Go out into the busiest intersections in town and invite anyone you find to the banquet.' The servants went out on the streets and rounded up everyone they laid eyes on, good and bad, regardless. And so the banquet was on—every place filled.

"When the king entered and looked over the scene, he spotted a man who wasn't properly dressed. He said to him, 'Friend, how dare you come in here looking like that!' The man was speechless. Then the king told his servants, 'Get him out of here—fast. Tie him up and ship him to hell. And make sure he doesn't get back in.'

"That's what I mean when I say, 'Many get invited; only a few make it.'"

What does it means to be invited?  If we are invited somewhere, does that mean that once we accept the invitation we have a certain responsibility to be on time, to dress appropriately, or to behave in a particular way? 

What do you think Matthew is trying to convey through this story about the newly forming faith community?  Do you think there were responsibilities that participants in this new community were following or weren’t observing in some way?

Although this is a difficult allegorical parable, it is one that causes each of us to reflect on the importance of accepting the invitation from God to be in life-giving, loving relationship with God and with each other.  Do we accept the invitation but not the life change this relationship demands?  Do we accept the invitation and go through the motions without investing in the promise the invitation brings for our lives and for our neighbors’ lives?

Join us this Sunday, October 9 at 10:00a.m. in Christ Church as we remember what it looks like and feels like to be invited, to be chosen.  Whether it is for kickball or senior staff, being invited, being chosen is a big deal and may have ramifications for the rest of our lives. Join us as we talk about God’s invitation and how that invitation challenges us to live. Looking forward to seeing you in Church!