From the Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew 22,1-14.
Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and the elders of the people in parables saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. A second time he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those invited: "Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast."' Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.' The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. He said to him, 'My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?' But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.' Many are invited, but few are chosen."
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus recounts the parable of the king who sends his servants to call the guests for the wedding feast he prepared for his son. When the king enters the hall to see the guests, he realizes that one of them is not wearing a wedding garment and asks him why not. He fell silent– says Jesus– that is, he did not know the answer. We are the wedding guests– are we sure we are presentable? Are we "dressed" as we should?
St. Gregory the Great said: “It is we, beloved brothers, who take part in the marriage of the Word. We who already have faith in the Church, who are nourished by Sacred Scripture, who rejoice because the Church is united with God. Now consider, please, if you have come to this wedding in the wedding dress: examine your thoughts carefully.” *
Sr. Stella Maria psgm
* (San Gregorio, Homiliae in Evangelia, 38, 11 [PL 76, 1289], unpublished translation by pfsgm)