The parable of the man without the wedding garment challenges our way of thinking. After the invited guests refuse to come, they are destroyed and the king sends his servants to bring whomever they may find. One guest is severely punished for disobeying the king’s wishes.
We may be tempted to make excuses for the man who was not dressed properly. He was called at the last minute. Perhaps he did not have time to prepare. Perhaps he could not afford fine clothes. Perhaps he felt it was better to attend ill prepared, than not attend at all. And wasn’t it? Was it not more important that he was there?
In truth no, when the king asks for an explanation the man has no answer. He is “reduced to silence.” He offers no defense for not being prepared. It is easy to imagine a shrug and a raised eyebrow in response to the king’s question.
The message is clear. The man had every opportunity to prepare himself for the feast but did not. It was clear the king expected all the guests to be suitably attired, suitably prepared. And the one, who was not, was cast out into the darkness.
When we try to follow Christ without accepting his will and the teaching of his Church, we are trying to get in to the wedding banquet while refusing to put on the wedding garment. It is not enough for us to just “show up.” We must be prepared to celebrate.
Pax Vobiscum
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Wedding Procession by Fabio Fabbi (Italian 1861-1946)