Matthew 22:1-14 (Luke 14:15-24)
Dressed for the Occasion
A few visual images to think about as we explore the scripture this Sabbath morning: A Bride; A Man in short pants wearing a baseball cap (It is World Series time after all!); and the entrance to a thrift store.
Think about this problem: You are planning to go out to a concert and your spouse asks you if she looks all right. Of course one responds: “Yes, you look wonderful tonight.” Any guy worth his salt knows how to answer that question. If he were to say, “Well, dear, you look like you could have used a little more sleep” or “Actually, that dress does not fit you any more,” he might be spending the night alone.
People have been wondering what clothes to wear since Adam and Eve put on fig leaves back in the Garden of Eden. It matters in the business world, where people try “power dressing.” It matters in the social arena. Recently, a number of young people camped out for five days, eagerly awaiting the opportunity to be the first to buy the latest Nike designer shoes priced at $185.00 a pair. Some dress for success, but it is more like seduction.
Dress is a form of self-communication. Our clothes make a statement about who we are culturally, economically, aesthetically, and morally. Most of us are quite anxious to ensure that our apparel is in tune with the current fashions. We also try to comply with what is considered acceptable for our age, sex, and occupation.
There is one particular arena in which appropriate clothing seems to matter most, and that is in our celebrations. Special occasions seem to call for new clothes, signifying the occasion as important and joyous. When we get invited to a party, we wonder what to wear. Sometimes baptisms call for new clothes. When we go to a funeral we seem to expect that persons dress a particular way. (This is changing.) Weddings are generally celebrated with new clothes. Great time and effort are devoted to planning what the bridal party will wear, especially the bride. Have you ever read a newspaper account of a wedding in which most of the account of the article was devoted to what the women wore? One time a magazine article was a hilarious spoof that turned things around and described only what the men wore.
In Matthew 22, Jesus tells a parable about a king hosting a wedding party for his son. Many Jews in Jesus’ day believed that, at the end of history, the Messiah would come and gather God’s people around a banquet table. It was a symbol of joy, celebration and communion that would go on without end. In fact, the early Christians interpreted the Lord’s Supper not only as communion with Christ, but also an anticipation of the feast to come in God’s realm.
In Jesus’ story, invitations are sent to the “A-list” people, but they are all too busy with other things. Was Jesus referring to Israel’s leaders and others who, through the years, had rejected the message of the prophets about the Messiah? So the king sends his emissaries to the poor side of town to invite the street people, anyone they can find.
Some say that they came in droves. We do not have to look far in Matthew’s gospel to see who they were. The tax collectors, the prostitutes, the riff-raff, the nobodies, the blind, the lame, the people who thought they’d been forgotten. They were thrilled that God’s message was for them after all.
However, the story does not end here, though we would like it to. Our society thrills to God’s unconditional love (even though we often practice conditional love in our own relationships). We like the appealing notion that God is like an overly indulgent grandfather who thinks the kids are wonderful no matter what they do. But Jesus continues the story, telling about the king noticing a man who was not properly attired. He challenges, “Friend, how did you get in here without a suit?” The king throws him out.
I believe that the wedding robe is a metaphor for the Christian life, which Paul describes as a garment which one dons when putting on Christ. In Galatians 3:27, Paul writes: “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” One has become a new person.
There is an old saying, “Clothes make the person,” which may not always be true, but it is when the clothing is Christ. Christ’s presence as a garment around us is more than a cover-up. When Christ gets that close to us through faith, he changes us. Yes, the King sends out an open invitation. Everyone is invited. Sinners are invited to come to Jesus just as they are and we were invited to come to Jesus just as we were; however, Jesus never leaves us the way he finds us. There is the story told of a social worker that was distributing used clothing at a center in a run-down part of the city. A 12-year old boy came to get an overcoat for winter. The social worker searched through the pile of clothing until he found a boy’s coat that looked brand new, with no sign of wear. “Son,” said the man, “Try this on.” The boy put it on slowly and then began to touch it and look at it. His eyes grew wide with excitement. “Why,” he gasped, “it is new!” Can we imagine what it meant for that boy to wear something new? I believe that something like that happens to the person who “puts on Christ.” As Paul explains, this garment means a new life of “compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12).
I believe that God’s kingdom is a realm of love, holiness, and mercy. These are the clothes we need to wear for the wedding. Christ has come to dress us for the occasion. Christ is all we need.
PRAYER: Merciful God, you have showered your goodness and forgiveness upon us. We glorify you for your endless generosity! Even though you love us unconditionally, sometimes we forget your call to discipleship, to cross bearing, to sacrificial service. Show us again your Son, Jesus Christ, who is with us always according to his promise, who walks with us in paths of service. In Jesus’ company, may we tell your story and live the lives you call us to live. We ask through the same Christ, our Savior. Amen.
