Many today share a fascination with royal weddings.
Millions watched when Princess Diana and Prince
Charles married. And “watch parties” met to view Kate Middleton
and Prince William’s wedding. Would you consider
not responding with a positive RSVP to a royal wedding?
Or can you imagine sending out invitations only to discover
on the day of the wedding that no one wants to attend?
Here in Matthew 22 we have a king who, after all the
invitees regretfully decline, chooses to invite everyone willing
to attend—good and bad. Can you picture a banquet hall
full of fits and misfits? I can. You and I experience this every
time we gather at the Communion table.
And what are we to make of the one who comes terribly
underdressed for the occasion? Can you imagine not
dressing appropriately for a royal wedding? Did he refuse to
wear the wedding robe traditionally provided by the king?
Unimaginable. Or is it?
How often have we refused to wear the “wedding robe”?
Remember the time we thought we were better than them
and didn’t have to wear the wedding robe? Or the time we
felt that we were not worthy enough to wear it? Truth be
told, all of us need the “wedding robe.” Wearing the robe
covers a multitude of sins.
Jesus invites us all to his banquet—a feast of the finest
gifts of grace. A feast for fits and misfits! Good and bad!
You and me! And best of all, robes of forgiveness, love, and
acceptance. Robes that cover our brokenness and remind us
of our worthiness are freely and readily available for all of
us to wear.
By Cynthia Fierro Harvey from The Upper Room: 60 Days of Prayer for General Conference 2016