The king is enraged so he sends his army to destroy the murderers and burn down their city. Then he tells his servants to go out into the street and invite everyone they see to the banquet.
OK, we've all gone to wedding banquets that have had some glitches. So we get it. Looks like the king made the best of a bad situation.
But then when the king finds a man at the party who is not wearing wedding clothes. Matthew 22:12-14 ends the story this way:
"'Friend, he asked, how did you get in here without wedding clothes? The man was speechless. Then the king told the attendants. 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are invited, but few are chosen.'"
OK, I get the lesson but it seems unduly harsh to me. So when, a couple of days ago, I read an article about a woman in Indianapolis (my home town) it reminded me of this parable - only with a twist.
 |
| Sarah's Wedding Banquet Guests |
Sarah, a 25-year-old pharmacy student at Purdue University, decided that rather than throw away the food she would bring some purpose to the event and began contacting area homeless shelters until she had 170 folks lined up. She greeted each one of her guests, including a dozen veterans, as they arrived. And (get this) several local businesses and residents donated suits, dresses and other items for the guests to wear. (So, thankfully there was no weeping and gnashing of teeth outside the Ritz Charles in Carmel last Saturday.)
I love this story and I think Jesus loves it too.
***
