The Motley Crew Is You!

Was it W. C. Fields who said, "I could never be a member of a country club that would have me as a member."? Or was it Groucho Marx? Never the less this weekend's readings are about invitation and membership. More specifically they're about who all are invited to God's banquet and God's kingdom, and what it means that one accepts that invitation.

Motley Crue is not just a name of a heavy metal band that could have performed at last week's Louder Than Life Festival in Louisville. Motley crew describes who is part of God's Kingdom now and at the end of time. One spiritual writer of a century ago wrote that he would have three surprises when he shows up at Heavens gate. First, he knows he'll be surprised at the folks that he thought would be there, but aren't. Second, he will be surprised at those who are there, that he thought had no chance. Third, he will be surprised that he will be invited in.

The parable of the Kingdom today from Matthew's 22nd chapter shows the regular invited guests to the king's wedding feast for his son turning their backs and having better things to do. The second choices of the king's also offered excuses not to come. So the king invites peasants and folks living on the side of the road to come to his son's wedding until the banquet hall was filled with "bad and good alike". It reminds me of what I've heard of Dorothy Day's funeral. There in St. Patrick Cathedral (I believe) were cardinals, bishops, business CEO's, and powerful politicians along with bag ladies, winos, AIDS patients, and ex-convicts. It is said that each group was surprised that the folks from the other groups were there.

The point is clear. God's invitation to His heavenly banquet is universal and ALL inclusive. We are the ones who have the problems with the folks on God's guest list. God invites all!

However the end of the parable is a head scratcher. Why would the king throw someone out just because they were not well dressed? Not only did he throw the poorly dressed guest out, he had him bound hand and foot and tossed out. He wasn't politely asked to leave, he was made an example of, and punished. This treatment by the king does not seem to be in character with his benevolent and welcoming behavior in being so all inclusive in his invitation.

Rev. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his classic book, "The Cost of Discipleship", tells us that God is not a God of "cheap grace". God's benevolence, mercy, love, forgiveness and welcoming are all free gifts. But they are not "cheap". "All are welcome" is true. But all have a standard to uphold once they realize that they are gifted by God. In Jesus' time wedding guests at a royal wedding were required to dress in a wedding garment. If one did not own suitable clothing, then wedding garments were provided by the host at the door to the banquet hall. In other words, the uninvited guest had ample opportunities to dress appropriately. He just chose to ignore the king's standards.

This part of the story is not about shorts, tank tops, sandals, or revealing clothing in church. It is about responding with gratitude to enormous gift that God is offering us. Once invited we are called to act like we're grateful for the invitation. Showing gratitude as disciples involves trying to live as God wills and in imitation of God's Son. Max Lucado says, "God loves you just the way you are. But, He refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus." Life, discipleship, and acceptance of God's invitation to be part of His Eternal Kingdom are all about receiving  God's free gift of an eternal and loving relationship and then treating God, all others and oneself differently because of that gift from God.

In three more chapters from now in Matthew's Gospel we see the story of a whole world of surprised guests. Those on the right will be invited in to "Come and enjoy the eternal banquet prepared for you". Those on the left will be banished. All will be seen as ones who did or did not treat the "least" brothers and sisters of Christ with compassion and mercy.

We know of God's invitation to us. We know that much will be required of those to whom much has been given. Let us each love the motley crew that makes up our world.

Peace,
Fr. Chuck