Proper 23 (A)
A Wedding -- An Invitation

October 11, 1987
By Rev. Ernest F. Campbell

Today’s Gospel really consists of two parables. The story about the wedding banquet which, it seems,
everyone who was originally invited to…. was too busy to attend. And the second story about the guest who showed up improperly attired.

The first story is easily applied to our too busy or poorly prioritized lives. In the process of meeting all the demands of our business, organizational and social obligations, we too often miss the best that life has to offer. We are too easily distracted from the banquet of relationships at which each of us may honor and be honored by simply offering the gift of our presence.

You know, when you stop to think about it, that there has been a lot of thought and preparation that has taken place before you read your name printed on a wedding invitation. Two individuals and two families have chosen you to help celebrate and support their marriage. Our presence at that wedding says something. It says, we think this is important; this we honor, this is worthy of our time and energy. Our presence gives a meaningful and powerful voice of love and support.

One of the special joys of my ministry is to be a witness to the love and power that flows out of weddings and wedding receptions. People have come to give of themselves on behalf of the couple being married and their families. Those expressions of love have power!

Example: Margaret and I were greeted by 500 guests at our wedding. There was love and a POWERFUL send off!

In our new liturgy there is even an opportunity to affirm that intent, when the officiant asks, “Will all of you witnessing these promises do all in your power to uphold these two persons in their marriage?” To which the congregation responds – “WE WILL!”

Can you imagine how devastating it would be if there was silence at that point, or even how much more devastating it would be if everyone, thinking that others would surely attend, left only the couple and their families to celebrate the wedding to themselves. “Too bad more people weren’t here!”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus uses the image of a wedding to illustrate the importance of God’s invitation to join Him at His banquet of reconciliation. A banquet of acceptance for all, a banquet of forgiveness for all, of love for all. A wedding of course is a symbol for wholeness. It is the coming together, a uniting, of differences as seen in the differences of male and female, and the differences of family backgrounds and personal histories. There is always an exciting element of doubt and hope that this marriage will not only bring joy and happiness to the couple being married, but that their love may be an inspiration to the whole community. That unity, as we pray at all weddings, may overcome estrangement, bring forgiveness, heal guilt, and give joy the opportunity to conquer despair.

When we come together on Sunday mornings, or whenever we gather, we also represent a meeting of differences. There is always an element of doubt that we Christians will ever “get it together,” and hope that someday the world will say, “See how they love one another.” I honestly think that the world is desperately longing to see if love really works.

I believe that by means of this simple parable, Our Lord is asking us to look at what we and the world will miss if we fail to keep our priorities straight. In our baptismal commitment we promised to continue in the Apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread and in the prayers.

Those who missed the fellowship banquet were not engaged in some evil. They were simply taking care of the ordinary business at hand. But, the ordinary business at hand kept them from honoring the King, the King’s Son and His bride at the banquet.

When we join together on Sunday morning to honor the Lord, we also honor each other. A worship service that people support with both their presence and enthusiastic participation takes on a power of its own. It says something…. It says, “O Lord our God, You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power” ….and it says as we honor the Lord, we also honor one another. By our presence and participation, we strengthen one another in our faith commitment.

Simply seeing each other here can be the most inspiring ingredient of our Sunday worship. It’s as though we are saying… will all those witnessing this worship do all in your power to support one another in their faith.

I make the same appeal to you as I recently made to our new 9th grade acolytes. Worship is the most challenging happening in our lives. If you know what to look for and are willing to pray for what you see…. think of all the things that are going on in the lives of people on a typical Sunday. Really see them and pray for them. Pray for their joys, their sorrows. Pray for their concerns for young children, for good health, or for elderly parents who now take more time and energy than their young children ever did. Worship is never meant to be a passive…. objective…. pleasant passing of time. The point is we need each other to make worship work.

The second parable is a comment on our attitude in worship. How we dress has nothing to do with our salvation. But, it can (at times) be a reflection of our spiritual preparation. When we go to a friend’s house for dinner we dress up as a sign of gratitude and respect. It’s a simple way of saying… I consider this invitation to be something special. In worship we need to consider the purpose of our praise, or we make it a sham. Dressing up could be just as much of a sham as improper attire if we have not really thought about our purpose and responsibilities.

William Barclay put it nicely when he wrote, “There are garments of the mind and of the heart and of the soul – the garment of expectation, the garment of humble penitence, the garment of faith, the garment of reverence. These are the garments without which we ought not to approach God. If we all came to worship in these garments – the worship would be worship indeed. The worship in which and through which things happen in men’s souls. And in the life of the church and in the affairs of the world.”

Resources for further study: 

The Lectionary Page: 

Exodus 32:1-14 Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23 Philippians 4:1-9 Matthew 22:1-14

Isaiah 25:1-9 Psalm 23 Philippians 4:1-9 Matthew 22:1-14