Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 25:6-10; Psalms 23:1-6; Matthew 22:1-14

"Many are invited, but few are chosen." So who exactly does the choosing, because God does not seem all that picky. Sure, she gets angry at the ones who turn down his invitation. But the only guy who actually gets thrown out of the party is the one who refuses to open his mouth. Otherwise, the "bad and good alike" are enjoying the feast. So again, who does the choosing? Corporate religion has claimed the job for eons, but volunteering to be hall monitor does not guarantee one the position. No, the truth is that we choose for ourselves, sans intermediaries. Right now, our Parent is preparing "for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines." A feast for all peoples, not just the ones who play by the clerical rules. A feast that is our birthright as sons and daughters of the King. So will you take your seat at table? And when you are challenged about your attire, will you boldly proclaim for all to hear, "I have chosen to dwell in the house of our Lord all the days of my life."

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 22: 1-14

Our bishops give us an interesting choice this day. We can stop with the king's hall filled with guests, bad and good alike. Or we can keep going to watch our benevolent king toss out the poor man who has arrived without his wedding garment. After all, "many are invited, but few are chosen." I wonder which option our priests will choose today? Which option would you choose? We all know which option is more pleasing. Surely none of us would be among the fools who actually reject the king's invitation. Of course we will be his guest. But will we remember the wedding garment? A little tougher question. No, we definitely don't want to keep going; stop at the easy line where we've all made it inside; let's not think about getting thrown out into the darkness. But wait, did the poor man get thrown out for not having the garment, or for remaining silent before his king? Does his silence come from fear, embarrassment, or guilt? Surely our benevolent king can tell. So the real question is this: do we have the courage to face our king bare naked, or do we want to stop at the easy part?