Wednesday 20 June 2012

Wednesday Aaaah

Yesterday we ended up with 16 Students and Leaders and Teacher from Keeseekoowenin School,   a Canadian-Ukrainian family,  a fellow looking for Irish musicians, a Museum Volunteer's  Brother-in-law from Red Deer Alberta,   a Condo Board Director,  a Cap Badge enthusiast,  a Reservist,  and an Officer coming into the Museum.   At the end of the day,  Mr. Neale (Curator Emeratus of 87 years of age) said, "I think I need a seat!  I am tired!"   Indeed.  Yet his enthusiasm never waned.   How neat is that!  Joyous Occasions.


Wednesday Retreat....
Prayer:   Holy God,  as we go out into the world this day, may we know Your presence as we give witness to Your love and grace.   Help us to know the peace of Christ in times of trouble, doubt, and sorrow.  Help us remember that You are with us in our life’s journey.  For this and all things, we give You thanks and praise.  Amen.

Read St. Matthew 22: 1 - 14

Jesus tells the Chief Priests and Elders another Parable.   Jesus begins by saying,
“The Kingdom of God is like a King who threw a wedding banquet for his son.” 

Everyone likes a wedding!  It is a time of great joy!   Yet this was a wedding were all of the invited guests would not attend.  WHAT?  Who wouldn’t want to attend a wedding?
God’s love is open to all but many ignore God’s love.   

Then  the King tells his servants to go out into the streets and invite anyone to come to the wedding.    People came to the wedding in droves.  It was a joyous occasion.

Yet the King looks out over the guests and spots a man who wasn’t properly dressed. 
In Jewish culture,  guests donned a “wedding garment”…this garment was not an everyday piece of cloth but something saved for special occasions.   This man was not wearing a wedding garment.    But to be asked at the last minute to attend a wedding and then get all upset because a last minute guest isn’t wearing the proper clothes seems to be nit picking.     In fact the King says to the man, “Friend, how dare you come in here looking like that!”  The man was speechless.  Then the King instructs his servants to tie up the man and throw him outside into the horrors of life.

Huh?   Does that make any sense?   Why did the King get upset with a guest who was invited at the last minute and then wasn’t dressed properly?  Two reasons.  First  God’s invitation is one of grace. God’s invitation is open to anyone.   Christ dined with tax collectors and sinners.   Yet this one guest at the wedding stands out and then gets tossed out.   Here Jesus is stating that sometimes those who accept God’s grace end up abusing God’s grace.  And that is not acceptable.  There is more to this story than merely wearing the wrong cloths.  This man had the wrong attitude!  Second reason was even at the last minute when one is invited to a wedding and knows that one needs to wear special clothes,  this man decided to be lazy and not take the extra two seconds to find and wear the special wedding clothes. 

Jesus then says that many are invited but only a few make it.   

Prayer:  Great God,  we pray that we may grow together in the knowledge and understanding of God’s Word.    Strength us by Your Spirit so that we can share Your love and purpose with everyone we meet this day.  This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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