Arrogant bastards

      Clearly there is yet another reference to the judgment day and that there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. As someone who has been close to meeting my maker on several occasions, I am not arrogant or quite stupid enough to think that it might not be me. As humans we have this stupefying ability to make ourselves the center of attention and think we are right about everything. We justify everything, we want everything and anyone be damned if they disagree with us. I am not sure I am quite that bad but I know I am far from perfect.

      But speaking of the righteous, deluded and self indulgent, the passage today speaks of those invited to 'the banquet' and speaks of those that have been invited by default lets say. It speaks of an interesting dynamic.  Here you have a group of people who are actually invited and lay waste to the opportunity and privilege.  Those that would hardly seem eligible for such an honor are welcomed in.

      I often wonder about people who count on their invitation and will find themselves wailing and gnashing their teeth when they find they have actually been disinvited by their very own actions ( or inactions ).  I imagine too, some serious huffing and puffing as the ones deemed unfit march past those arrogant bastards right through the pearly gates. That of course is a human construct that justice will prevail even in heaven. 

      No matter what, this passage should give us pause to think about our invitation to life, as beloved children of God and the banquet of love spread out for us. What is our response? Too busy? gotta go to work? need to rest? or the ever famous one about going to worship services, "I don't have to go to church to be holy". We all can come up with a good reason to not attend, not participate, not "do" what we are called and invited to do. 

           Whatever we decide, know that the ones we look down on, the 'errant' ones and the sinners, they are invited too. 

Matthew 22:1-14

Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, “Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.” But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, maltreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, “The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 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.

‘But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, “Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?” And he was speechless.Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen.’