Invitation

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 23A)

Matthew 22.1-14

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

 

So . . . let me get this straight. A king hosts a wedding banquet for his son. The invitations went out months ago. Presumably those invited had RSVPed. And given the fact that it was likely the most extravagant event of the year, there were few, if any, regrets sent. And now that it’s time for the big event, nobody shows up? That’s pretty rude. No, not rude. Impossible! After all, who would not want to go to a banquet hosted by the king? It’s not every day you get to do that. And to add to the lunacy, when the king is told that no one is bothering to come, he goes ballistic and sends his army—an ARMY—to kill the ungrateful invitees and burn their city down. Now that’s a little over the top, to say the least. So, then, still wanting to have a party, the king has his servants go out into the streets and bring in anyone and everyone who passes by—both good and bad. After all, you can’t let all that food and booze go to waste.

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