Spurn not

Today’s Gospel Text:  And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, 2 "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a marriage feast for his son, 3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast; but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, Behold, I have made ready my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves are killed, and everything is ready; come to the marriage feast.' 5 But they made light of it and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. 7 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore to the thoroughfares, and invite to the marriage feast as many as you find.' 10 And those servants went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 "But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment; 12 and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.' 14 For many are called, but few are chosen." Matt 22:1-14

Reflection: This to me is one of the most touching parables of Jesus, with a profound and deep meaning to it.

Yet it is a parable, which when one reflects on deeply, seems to make us wonder whether this is indeed the reality of life.

Who would not like to enjoy themselves at a marriage feast and go and help themselves to things?

In poor countries and among the poor the reality is very different; they would most willingly accept an invitation to a marriage feast because the food would indeed be special and enjoyable to them.

It would be like, 'once in a lifetime offer' to them, which will never easily be spurned by them.

But to the rich, a mass cooked marriage meal may not be a great attraction because the rich are a satisfied lot with their taste buds.

And if you thought this parable has only to do with food, then you are sadly mistaken and you may end up only rejecting all the rich from the gamut of salvation, though sadly many would belong to the category of the materially rich.

A good food brings joy and satisfies the hunger, it pleases the eye and gratifies the stomach so also there are things which we have access to by our own will and working, which makes us walk like independent people, not requiring the need of God in our lives.

To begin with, there are the many spirituality’s in the market place and that too many of them on sale, which satisfies the hunger of the soul, which has not really tasted the real food which God has to offer in Christ Jesus.

Then there are exercises and specialized food which promises the sky and does offer one a spirit of well being minus God and his moral teachings.

Then we have modern new age gurus, which even includes the psychologists, who easily replace God in people’s lives. 

What is more these avenue’s help us to continue with the most comfortable routine of life, and makes us even fit into it, so as not to disturb the fragile peace.

Aware of these things, the parable reminds us that he is a God with a mission, and his servants must still carry on with the mission to save humanity by inviting mankind to the banquet, through the proclamation of the Gospel.

Prayer: Lord God, may we never spurn your invitation, which implies our good and seek to proclaim it to others. .

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