God calls us to celebrate our salvation
Matthew 22: 1-14: The Parable of the Wedding Banquet
The Parable of the Wedding Banquet begins with the questions of the chief priests and elders of the people about Jesus regarding His authority: “When He entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him as He was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?’” (21:23). Jesus told two parables: (1) The Parable of the Two Sons (21: 28-32), and (2) The Parable of the Wicked Tenants (21: 33-44). In 21: 45-46: “When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they realized that He was speaking about them. They wanted to arrest Him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded Him as a prophet.”
Next is The Parable of the Wedding Banquet (22: 1-14); a metaphor of judgment. This main parable has two sub-parables: (1) “A king who gave a wedding banquet for his son” (22: 1-10), and (2) A man who attended “without a wedding robe” (22: 11-14).
A king who gave a wedding banquet for his son (22: 1-10): "They" were the chief priests and Pharisees (22: 1) who understood that Jesus was speaking about them. They wanted to arrest Him but feared the crowds who regarded Him as a prophet (21:46). This is a description of the kingdom on earth differing from the kingdom of heaven. The wedding feast is the portrait of a joyful celebration with the Messiah and those who believe in Him as guests sitting at the table in the kingdom of heaven. This is God's feast, as the Prophet Isaiah (25: 6-8) says:
“On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever. Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.”
The king (God) takes the initiative to arrange for the wedding feast by inviting the guests. These guests are the people who are in a good relationship with God and they are the people who depend on their needs on God.
Preparing for a party requires time, so it is customary to send and distribute invitations in advance. Next is the preparation of food for the invitees. Extending the invitation, preparing the food, and welcoming the audience involve a long process. But in the parable, those invited did not arrive. Some walked away; some went to their farms; some took care of their businesses; and others became violent despising and killing the servants who brought the invitations. Here the invitees referred to the Jews who were known to the king. The rejection of the invitation to join his son at a party was a great insult to the king. Definitely, the king was embarrassed.
The king ordered his servants, saying: “Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.” (22: 9-10) On the streets were different kinds of people unknown to the king. These consisted of the poor people, slaves, beggars, sickly people, travelers, Gentiles or non-Jews. They were to be with the Jews who had listened to the king. The bad and good would be gathered together at the banquet presided over by the king.
This particular parable reminds us that the kingdom of heaven is for those who want to be united in the work and celebration that God has prepared. It recognizes that there are good and bad people called to be part of salvation. But it also indicates a warning that God could severely condemn those who refused the invitation much more than those who “seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them,” (22:6) referring to God’s workers. “The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.” (22:7).
The second part of the Parable involved the man who attended the wedding without the proper attire or wedding robe (22: 11-14). In this passage, the king gave the rule that those who attended, even if they were found on the streets, should wear wedding attires. He said, “Friend, why did you come in here without a wedding robe?” (22:12) He who does not wear a wedding garment is associated with the "good and bad people" (12:10). From the perspective of the king, wearing a wedding robe is a description of the righteousness of a person. The person who was not wearing the proper attire was ordered by the king to be thrown outside: “Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth,” (22:13). Being thrown into the darkness; into the fire that never dies; or thrown under the sea were the punishments to be given to these people during the time of judgment. Then Jesus said, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” (22:14). This reminder of Jesus was addressed to the chief priests and Pharisees; indicating to the listeners who would really become part of the kingdom of heaven.
God has called us to the celebration of our salvation through Jesus’ teachings that there are different kinds of people: different characteristics, experiences, perspectives and attitudes in life, and above all social status. People have different standards of living and backgrounds. Nevertheless, God invites all these people to join in the festivities like a wedding party. A wedding is a picture of a new stage of life or beginning of a new life.
We must not refuse the invitation nor should we be violent in refusing the invitation. The invitation is a blessing, however, we also need to be “prepared” even if we are “only found on the streets”. This means that our lives must always be ready to conform to God’s standards of righteousness and goodness, and we must live out His will. So, wherever we are, we are ready for the invitation or calling of the Lord Jesus Christ. The salvation offered to us is real and will give us eternal joy.
But how can we be sure that those invited by us will be happy in our Church or in the Christian community of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente? So, are we assured of happiness if the people called by Christ chooses the IFI? The Christian life at IFI is a truly joyful one if based in the eyes and viewpoint of its members who are faithful witnesses to God's love for the world, Pro Deo et Patria. Even with the threats on the lives of those who serve because of their solidarity with the poor, oppressed and exploited, especially workers, peasants and fisherfolk, urban poor, indigenous peoples and Moro, and patriotic activists and human rights defenders of the people in promoting a just and lasting peace, they (members) courageously remain loyal to the IFI. The people associated with the IFI are those “called by the king found on the streets” who may be Christians or non-Christians; churched or unchurched. As long as they are in solidarity with the people seeking meaningful change, the IFI may gladly serve them.
Can we first be selective if the IFI invitees are already wearing the “wedding robe”? Can we tie them up right away or give them time to dress up? We must understand that binding those who do not wear the proper wedding attires will happen at the end of time. Being a follower of Christ, especially being a part of the IFI, is also not an easy task. Can we tell the people who do not heed our call that they do not belong to the kingdom of God, or can we tell them that God will punish you for just rejecting our invitation to join in our celebration and service? The kingdom of heaven is for everyone, but the one who refuses will not be included. There are those who do not believe in Christ but still they are people of the world.
We have just commemorated the lives and struggles of Isabelo “Don Belong” delos Reyes, Sr. and Obispo Maximo Isabelo “Beluco” delos Reyes, Jr., yesterday, October 10, 2020. Don Belong fought for national independence, democracy and rights of the Filipino people. OM Beluco struggled for the unity of the Church through ecumenism. Both called on the Filipinos to unite in serving God and the people, IFI style and method. May their lives be honored and emulated by IFI members forever, as we call on more people to join God in His banquet.
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless us all. Amen.
