October 15, 2017
First Presbyterian Church, Sterling IL
Christina Berry
Our first reading is from the letter to the Philippians. The Apostle Paul loved the church at Philippi, and his letters to them are full of affection along with his encouragement. This familiar reading comes toward the end of the letter, and includes his personal greetings for particular people, and those familiar words, “Rejoice in the Lord, always.”
It’s worth remembering, particularly with the two scriptures you’ll hear today, that the epistles, the letters, were written much earlier than the gospels. The letters reflect the formation of the early house churches, and point to some of the struggles of the newly formed Christian communities. In this letter, Paul refers to the church at Philippi as his “joy and crown,” -- they are such a source of pride and joy to him that they are like a laurel wreath awarded to an Olympic athlete. He loves this congregation.
Let’s listen for God’s word to us in Philippians 4:1-9.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.
Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.
Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
Our gospel reading also addresses the early church. Matthew’s gospel is believed to have been written around the last quarter of the first century. The community to which it is written has one foot firmly planted in Judaism and the other in the newly formed Christian community. There is some anxiety, as might be expected, about these strange newcomers who have been joining them, and about what the gospel community is going to look like if they are welcomed in. Like last week’s reading about the tenants in the vineyard, this reading is a mixture of parable and allegory, with Matthew adding a bit more than his original source did. The more generous reading in Luke omits the enraged reactions of the king, but Matthew wants to make it clear that there are consequences for the failure to respond and to act in such a way that reflects our membership in God’s gathered people.
The story has two main points – first, the kingdom of God is like a glorious wedding celebration, and second, if the invited guests won’t respond to the invitation, there will be others welcomed to the banquet.
Let’s listen for God’s gospel invitation to us in 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, mistreated 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."
Sometimes when I read a parable like this,
or like the one we had last week,
I think, “Jesus, you have some explaining to do.”
But now that we’ve been in Matthew’s gospel for these many weeks,
I think that if I get to meet the writer of Matthew in heaven,
I will demand my explanation from him!
This story in Luke’s gospel is SO cool!
It doesn’t include the part about those invited killing the messengers,
nor any of the burning and destruction wrought by the king,
nor does the king kick out an underdressed guest.
Plus it would go much better with the epistle reading about rejoicing.
Still, the fact that a scripture troubles us is a good reason to study it.
It seems pretty obvious to everyone that this story is told to the church,
to the community that came to be after the resurrection and ascension.
Christianity, as you know, didn’t drop from the heavens
as a fully articulated religious path.
It was developed over many centuries, with many voices, up to now.
As we approach the observation of the Reformation in a couple of weeks,
that is worth remembering.
In the newly emerging Christian community,
it was not immediately clear what God might be up to.
Matthew’s story demonstrates the teetering balance
between God’s sovereign grace and our own responsibility.
It doesn’t include the part about those invited killing the messengers,
nor any of the burning and destruction wrought by the king,
nor does the king kick out an underdressed guest.
Plus it would go much better with the epistle reading about rejoicing.
Still, the fact that a scripture troubles us is a good reason to study it.
It seems pretty obvious to everyone that this story is told to the church,
to the community that came to be after the resurrection and ascension.
Christianity, as you know, didn’t drop from the heavens
as a fully articulated religious path.
It was developed over many centuries, with many voices, up to now.
As we approach the observation of the Reformation in a couple of weeks,
that is worth remembering.
In the newly emerging Christian community,
it was not immediately clear what God might be up to.
Matthew’s story demonstrates the teetering balance
between God’s sovereign grace and our own responsibility.
First, the invitation is to a wedding banquet, a celebration!
Actually, in the first century, the invitation had already gone out before the story begins.
Actually, in the first century, the invitation had already gone out before the story begins.
It was kind of like a “save the date” card.
Second, the invitation is not from your college roommate’s stepson.
It is from THE KING!
So, of course, when that first invite came to you, you accepted.
When the wedding banquet is for the king’s son, you don’t just ignore it.
But you know how it is.
Every wedding I ever do, it goes something like this, I imagine:
Yay! Fun! We got a wedding invitation!
Oh, look, here’s the RSVP for the reception.
Of course we are going to go, right honey?
Would you rather have chicken or beef?
Two months later, the bride texts you.
“Did you get the invitation? Are you coming?”
Ooops! Oh, sorry, yeah, forgot to mail it.
We’ll be there.
She dutifully notifies the caterer.
But then something comes up –
maybe there’s a fight and a breakup and your plus one is now a minus one.
maybe somebody invites you to something that is closer,
or maybe another invitation comes that is more fun for your spouse.
Maybe you have the opportunity to get some important work done.
Whatever it is, you decide not to go.
So you don’t show up.
I probably do not have to tell you – this drives brides crazy!
Wedding banquets cost a lot of money.
Thirty thousand dollars is not an unusual amount for one these days.
And you pay for it ahead of time.
Second, the invitation is not from your college roommate’s stepson.
It is from THE KING!
So, of course, when that first invite came to you, you accepted.
When the wedding banquet is for the king’s son, you don’t just ignore it.
But you know how it is.
Every wedding I ever do, it goes something like this, I imagine:
Yay! Fun! We got a wedding invitation!
Oh, look, here’s the RSVP for the reception.
Of course we are going to go, right honey?
Would you rather have chicken or beef?
Two months later, the bride texts you.
“Did you get the invitation? Are you coming?”
Ooops! Oh, sorry, yeah, forgot to mail it.
We’ll be there.
She dutifully notifies the caterer.
But then something comes up –
maybe there’s a fight and a breakup and your plus one is now a minus one.
maybe somebody invites you to something that is closer,
or maybe another invitation comes that is more fun for your spouse.
Maybe you have the opportunity to get some important work done.
Whatever it is, you decide not to go.
So you don’t show up.
I probably do not have to tell you – this drives brides crazy!
Wedding banquets cost a lot of money.
Thirty thousand dollars is not an unusual amount for one these days.
And you pay for it ahead of time.
I read a great story about a bride whose wedding was planned for July,
and two weeks before the big day, they called it off.
“I called everyone, canceled, apologized, cried, called vendors,
cried some more and then I started feeling really sick
about just throwing away all the food I ordered for the reception,” she said.
Rather than waste that banquet, she started calling homeless shelters.
The press got wind of it, and other donors in Indianapolis
and two weeks before the big day, they called it off.
“I called everyone, canceled, apologized, cried, called vendors,
cried some more and then I started feeling really sick
about just throwing away all the food I ordered for the reception,” she said.
Rather than waste that banquet, she started calling homeless shelters.
The press got wind of it, and other donors in Indianapolis
provided dresses and suits for the homeless guests who would attend.[1]
Sound familiar?
“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;
Sound familiar?
“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.
When the king invites you to a wedding banquet, and you don’t show up,
the king is not going to let that sumptuous feast go to waste.
Someone is going to be at that table, drinking the wine and eating the food.
That may as well be you.
So who does God invite? And who does God welcome?
It would seem that Matthew’s story means to say
that God eventually invites and welcomes everyone to the table.
And those who don’t show up will suffer for their rejection.
Okay, let’s go with that.
But what about that poor homeless guy, that last minute guest,
who didn’t have the right clothes to wear to the banquet?
As with Matthew’s other lessons, this one poses a difficult question.
And it is a question for us to ask - not Jesus, or Matthew, but ourselves.
What is there about me that looks like I’m going to God’s banquet?
If we are those homeless, outcast people who got this invitation,
you’d think that our gratitude and delight would show.
You’d think anybody could tell just by looking that we’re joyful guests
at a banquet that goes on forever,
set for us to share and celebrate.
When the king invites you to a wedding banquet, and you don’t show up,
the king is not going to let that sumptuous feast go to waste.
Someone is going to be at that table, drinking the wine and eating the food.
That may as well be you.
So who does God invite? And who does God welcome?
It would seem that Matthew’s story means to say
that God eventually invites and welcomes everyone to the table.
And those who don’t show up will suffer for their rejection.
Okay, let’s go with that.
But what about that poor homeless guy, that last minute guest,
who didn’t have the right clothes to wear to the banquet?
As with Matthew’s other lessons, this one poses a difficult question.
And it is a question for us to ask - not Jesus, or Matthew, but ourselves.
What is there about me that looks like I’m going to God’s banquet?
If we are those homeless, outcast people who got this invitation,
you’d think that our gratitude and delight would show.
You’d think anybody could tell just by looking that we’re joyful guests
at a banquet that goes on forever,
set for us to share and celebrate.
You’d think that as we approach this table,
to re-enact and receive that joyful feast,
we’d be almost dancing up the aisles!
And you’d think that as we are on our way, out and about,
that anyone would observe our faith,
like a wedding garment, a glorious robe, a fancy tux or dress.
John Calvin said, in his commentary on this parable:
“As to the wedding garment, is it faith, or is it a holy life?
This is a useless controversy;
for faith cannot be separated from good works,
nor do good works proceed from any other source than from faith.
Christ intended only to state that the Lord calls us
on the express condition of our being renewed by the Spirit after his image;
and that, in order to our remaining permanently in his house,
we must put off the old man with his pollutions ...
and lead a new life that the garment may correspond
to so honorable a calling…
[and] whomsoever the Lord invites
he at the same time supplies with clothing.[2]
So while our Presbyterian and Reformed tradition tells us
that we get to attend God’s feast through God’s invitation and God’s grace,
we hold that in tension with the knowledge that our lives
ought to look like we are glad and grateful.
However, this in no way gives us the authority
to exclude anyone from the feast based on the way they are dressed.
to re-enact and receive that joyful feast,
we’d be almost dancing up the aisles!
And you’d think that as we are on our way, out and about,
that anyone would observe our faith,
like a wedding garment, a glorious robe, a fancy tux or dress.
John Calvin said, in his commentary on this parable:
“As to the wedding garment, is it faith, or is it a holy life?
This is a useless controversy;
for faith cannot be separated from good works,
nor do good works proceed from any other source than from faith.
Christ intended only to state that the Lord calls us
on the express condition of our being renewed by the Spirit after his image;
and that, in order to our remaining permanently in his house,
we must put off the old man with his pollutions ...
and lead a new life that the garment may correspond
to so honorable a calling…
[and] whomsoever the Lord invites
he at the same time supplies with clothing.[2]
So while our Presbyterian and Reformed tradition tells us
that we get to attend God’s feast through God’s invitation and God’s grace,
we hold that in tension with the knowledge that our lives
ought to look like we are glad and grateful.
However, this in no way gives us the authority
to exclude anyone from the feast based on the way they are dressed.
This past week, a story went viral about a little girl
preparing for her first communion in the Roman Catholic church.
She loves suits and bowties, so she picked out a beautiful white suit,
planning to wear it at that momentous event in the life of a Catholic child.
They have rehearsal for first Communion – because it is a big deal –
and at the rehearsal, she was told that she must wear a white dress.
Because she is a girl.
If she didn’t wear a dress, she couldn’t be part of the group event.
Her mother said, "My daughter just wants to wear pants
while worshipping the Lord
and receiving the Eucharist with her classmates.
She's not hurting anyone.
However, being excluded and ostracized IS hurting her.”[3]
Friends, in Jesus Christ, God invites the world to a wedding banquet,
a great celebration of God’s love and mercy.
As guests at the banquet, we are invited to come from east and west,
from north and south, to feast at the table of God.
preparing for her first communion in the Roman Catholic church.
She loves suits and bowties, so she picked out a beautiful white suit,
planning to wear it at that momentous event in the life of a Catholic child.
They have rehearsal for first Communion – because it is a big deal –
and at the rehearsal, she was told that she must wear a white dress.
Because she is a girl.
If she didn’t wear a dress, she couldn’t be part of the group event.
Her mother said, "My daughter just wants to wear pants
while worshipping the Lord
and receiving the Eucharist with her classmates.
She's not hurting anyone.
However, being excluded and ostracized IS hurting her.”[3]
Friends, in Jesus Christ, God invites the world to a wedding banquet,
a great celebration of God’s love and mercy.
As guests at the banquet, we are invited to come from east and west,
from north and south, to feast at the table of God.
There isn’t a dress code, but there is a certain way to recognize us:
we’re the joyful people.
we’re the joyful people.
We’re the ones who focus our hearts and minds and strength on
“whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable,... “
As guests invited to the great celebration, we honor the King
by welcoming everyone else who shows up.
We’ll leave it to the King to decide about them.
“whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable,... “
As guests invited to the great celebration, we honor the King
by welcoming everyone else who shows up.
We’ll leave it to the King to decide about them.
And even on the days when we are tired or busy or preoccupied;
even when we think that some other feast or some other table looks better;
even when we have ignored the invitation,
we are invited again and again.
This Christian life can be a great celebration,
one which brings us deep joy and a peace that passes understanding.
We can have that peace and joy.
And we start by simply showing up.
Amen.
[1] http://people.com/human-interest/bride-to-be-throws-30000-party-for-the-homeless-after-canceling-her-wedding/
[2] John Calvin, Commentary on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2.
[3] https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/indiana-church-denies-first-communion-little-girl-who-wore-suit-n810496
even when we think that some other feast or some other table looks better;
even when we have ignored the invitation,
we are invited again and again.
This Christian life can be a great celebration,
one which brings us deep joy and a peace that passes understanding.
We can have that peace and joy.
And we start by simply showing up.
Amen.
[1] http://people.com/human-interest/bride-to-be-throws-30000-party-for-the-homeless-after-canceling-her-wedding/
[2] John Calvin, Commentary on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2.
[3] https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/indiana-church-denies-first-communion-little-girl-who-wore-suit-n810496
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