Sunday, October 15, 2023

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
Isaiah 25:6-9
Psalm 23
Philippians 4:4-13
Matthew 22:1-14

It shall be said in that day, ‘Behold, this is our God! We have waited for him, and he will save us! This is Yahweh! We have waited for him. We will be glad and rejoice in his salvation!’

I visited a preschool one day just as the children were gathering for naptime. One little girl was holding a blanket and a stuffed animal, comfort items she always held during her naps. The teacher made a comment about the items, trying to convince the little girl that she did not need them. I was somewhat saddened by the exchange. We make our children grow up too fast these days.

We all have things onto which we cling during times of stress and doubt and fear. We cling to them because they give us comfort and peace. As adults we do not take a blanket and stuffed animal to bed, but we cling to other things. How many can’t face the day without a cup of coffee or cigarette? We hold onto pictures and knick-knacks because they remind us of people we love or happy memories. As much as we might wonder about the child with the blanket and stuffed animal, I carry my favorite pillows when I travel and have favorite blankets I use when it is chilly outside.

My recent health issues have made me reconsider how I eat. The hardest part of that is giving up my favorite comfort foods that I turn to when I am under stress. Who among us doesn’t dive into a bowl of ice cream or gorge on a favorite meal when we need comfort? I found a place near the hospital in Houston for cheesesteaks that I visited several times during the five weeks I cared for my dying father. The meal didn’t change anything, but it made me feel a little better.

Dogs have special toys; cats have a favorite place to sleep. Teenagers find comfort in talking on the phone to their best friends. Certain smells have an amazing effect on people, like baking bread or brownies. A widower will notice the smell of his wife’s perfume that still lingers in the closet. I think about my mom when I see pansies and my dad when I’m driving my car. We also have intangible things that bring us comfort. We find strength and courage through prayer, hope in something greater than ourselves, love in the faces of our family, and peace in the knowledge that God is in control. We cling to these things in good times and bad.

Psalm 23 is one of the most popular scriptures in the Bible. Even people who don’t follow Jesus are familiar with David’s words of trust in God’s care for His people. We hear it often, especially since it is often used for funerals. When we hear these words, we hear the promises of God’s loving hand on our lives. He takes care of our every need, even as we walk through that shadowy valley.

However, this passage is not comforting to everyone, just as the things we cling to might not be comforting for others. Our blankets seem old and smelly, unnecessary to those who find comfort in less tangible things. For some, Psalm 23 is only identified with funerals, so all they remember is that it accompanies death. The Psalm will not bring comfort to that person, only more pain. It would do us well to remember that God has created each of us to be different. We are unique in not only our gifts and our personalities, but also in our needs. For one person, Psalm 23 might offer a glimpse into something wonderful while for another it will only bring pain. So, we are called to minister to each other in their needs, to help them find comfort during their own times of stress, doubt, and fear.

And we all have those times when we need comfort. We can’t be happy all the time. Yet, there are people who seem to be just that. Have you known one of those people that no matter where they are, no matter what is happening they have a smile on their face? In the movie “Sister Act” starring Whoopi Goldberg, Kathy Najimy played Sister Mary Patrick, an upbeat nun who helped Sister Mary Clarence (Whoopi) find her place in the convent. Sister Mary Clarence was actually Delores Van Cartier, a Las Vegas headliner who was in hiding because her boyfriend had threatened her life. The convent life was far from Delores’s comfort zone and no matter how temporary it was to be, she needed people to help her adjust.

In one scene, Sister Mary Clarence and Sister Mary Patrick were sitting together, chatting about their lives. Slightly annoyed by the constant giddiness, Sister Mary Clarence asked Sister Mary Patrick if she was always so happy. Sister Mary Patrick answered, “Yes” and said that her mother thought she would grow up to be either a stewardess or a nun. Most of us look at people like her with the same annoyance as Delores. We can’t imagine always being happy. It is exhausting to be with them, how much more exhausting must it be to be them?

Yet Paul writes, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, ‘Rejoice.’” Always is a very long time. Sister Mary Clarence seems to have found that place where she always finds joy, but I don’t know many people that can get there. We go through a whole range of emotions, sometimes in just minutes. Even as we watch the movie “Sister Act” we experience fear, worry, sadness, hope, doubt, and happiness. We react to the experiences of those characters on screen, and we respond with smiles as well as tears.

However, rejoicing need not manifest merely as giddiness. Sister Mary Clarence had that kind of happiness, even in tough times, because she always saw the glass as half full. By writing “Rejoice in the Lord,” Paul reminds us that we can rejoice even as we cry tears of pain and doubt. This joy is different than mere happiness; it is living trust in God, responding to all our circumstances with a steadfast faith that is visible to the world. This does not mean we have to smile at all the time; it means standing firm in the promises of God, knowing that He is faithful. This means praising God always, in the good and the bad. This means being thankful, even when it seems like there is nothing to be thankful for.

Sadly, this letter was written by Paul in part because two fellow co-workers for Christ were at odds. We don’t know why Euodia and Syntyche were fighting, but I’m sure we have all seen this kind of relationship in our families, work, and even in church. Both sides are passionate about their opinion and are willing to fight for what they believe to be right and true. That is certainly true right now in the United States as politics has divided our nation. Many are divided over religion, also, even Christians. Perhaps Euodia and Syntyche had differing opinions about certain doctrines of faith or the direction of the new and growing Church. It would be impossible to find full agreement in the pews of our churches today, let alone between church bodies.

But Paul wrote, “Be of the same mind.” Does this mean that we have to agree about every detail of our faith? Some might think so, but Paul goes on to talk about rejoicing in the Lord. Despite our differences (differences that occur because God has created us as unique individuals), we can be of the same mind, praising God in all circumstances. We share the peace of God as we dwell in the love of God in Christ Jesus, instead of dwelling in our differences. As Paul wrote, “Whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report: if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think about these things.” We are called to make the best of our circumstances, even if it means taking a chance of doing something unexpected according to the ways of the world. Just as a person like Delores did not understand the joy in Sister Mary Patrick’s life, so the world does not understand our life of praise no matter our circumstances.

In today’s Gospel passage from Matthew, Jesus said, “For many are called, but few chosen.” If we are honest with ourselves, we will realize that we tend to read this with a sense of haughtiness. We believe that we are chosen, that we are “one of the few.” We think we are special, set aside because of our gifts and abilities rather than because of God’s grace. It is easy for us to point fingers at people that that seem to have rejected God’s invitation because they don’t seem to share “the same mind.”

In the past few weeks my husband and I have celebrated our thirty-five anniversary and I have celebrated my sixtieth birthday. We’ve struggled about how to celebrate. I searched the web for the right place to go out to eat, but all the “fancy” places were ridiculously expensive. We’ve visited some of those places in the past but have done so with coupons or at a discount. Even then those meals were too expensive. I don’t know whether I’ve become cheap in my old age or if prices have gone up so much, but I just couldn’t see myself spending that much money for a meal that did not have lasting value. I can be absolutely satisfied with a meal at a more practically priced restaurant. The food is usually pretty good and the service pleasant. We don’t need to spend our grocery money for a week to be filled.

Our scriptures today focus on the great banquet which our Father is preparing for us in heaven. Both Isaiah and Matthew talk about wedding feast that will be filled with an abundance of good food. I’m sure that whatever God has waiting will be better than even the best, most expensive meal we’ve ever eaten. My mouth waters in expectation, although this scripture makes it seem like this feast will be like a banquet, and I’m not sure I like the idea of spending eternity at a banquet. I have memories of banquets I’ve attended throughout my life. Wedding feasts are often fun, but the food is mass produced and sometimes over-cooked or cold by the time we get to eat.

I traveled with a group for a week when I was a teenager. We visited cities around our state to introduce our organization to places that would benefit from having us around. We were fed well during our trip, hosted at banquet feasts every day by the local groups who invited us to visit. Nearly every meal centered around ham; ham is easy to fix, at that time it was relatively inexpensive. The side dishes that go with ham are easy to prepare. The people who prepared the food did a good job; the food filled our bellies, but it was never satisfying. The ham was usually dry, the side dishes were not quite hot and fresh. Don’t get me wrong, we enjoyed the hospitality, but that’s my idea of what a feast is all about. God’s feast will not just serve a hundred or so; it will be a feast for all who have waited for God’s salvation. How can He possibly serve so many a feast so great?

He can because He is God. It is not a normal wedding like those we’ve attended. The feast will be great because He will be celebrating the marriage of His Son. This is the consummation of all His promises, the fulfillment of Christ’s work in the world. His bride the Church will be fully and completely made one with Him. Death will be swallowed up; tears will be dried. We will have reason to celebrate, and this feast is not a party that will end. It will last for eternity as we dwell in heaven with our Father and our Lord Christ forever.

Isaiah wrote, “This is Yahweh! We have waited for him. We will be glad and rejoice in his salvation!” Those who believe in Jesus will receive blessing from the Lord, salvation from our Savior. We may not think we can rejoice always, but we will see the day when mourning is turned to joy. We will feast at the victory table. Jesus overcomes even time and space by drawing all believers - past, present, and future - into His body, the Church. Jesus is the resurrection; He is our hope and life. He has overcome death and the grave and in Him alone is our hope for salvation.

It seems unbelievable to me that anyone will reject the Lord, but there are those who will not respond to the invitation to come to the feast. This is what Jesus was telling the disciples in today’s Gospel lesson. This parable follows the ones we’ve heard over the past few weeks. Two weeks ago, we were reminded that those who respond to God’s promises will be blessed, but those who say they believe but do not act will be left behind. Last week the lesson showed what will happen to those who violently reject God’s call to active, living faith. We know from the text that Jesus was speaking to the Jewish leaders; even they knew they were the ones who were being targeted at the time. However, these parables are as relevant today for those who continue to say one thing but do another and those who reject God’s call.

This week God offers an invitation. Isn’t it amazing how patient and purposeful He is with His people? Even as they were trying to find ways to arrest Jesus, He was still trying to get them to see the truth. He tells them the kingdom of heaven is like the wedding feast given by a king for his son. The invitations went out, and like those who said “Yes” but did not do what they promised, the guests refused to come. More servants were sent and ignored. Like the tenants in the vineyard, some of the invited guests even killed the king’s servants. In both the previous stories, Jesus pointed toward those who were deemed unworthy of God’s grace as being the recipients of His promises because they proved unfaithful in the end. The same is true in today’s passage; the king rejected those who rejected him and invited anyone willing to come. “Go therefore to the intersections of the highways, and as many as you may find, invite to the wedding feast.” The servants went out and invited all those they found until the wedding hall was full.

The wedding feast promised in our scriptures is for Christ and His Church. We know that ultimately God’s salvation is meant for all people, just as we see in the passage from Isaiah, but the invitation was first given to Israel. The scriptures foretold the time when the Messiah would come. They were given the signs and promises; they knew what they should be looking for. The prophets came and spoke the warnings and the promises, but the people ignored and even rejected them. Matthew’s texts over the past few weeks have shown how God’s people have gone their own way, following their own wants and desires rather than God’s Word. They killed the prophets, and in last week’s lesson Jesus predicted that they would even kill the Son.

At that word, the chief priests wanted to arrest Jesus, but they were afraid of the crowd. Jesus extended the conversation with a parable about heaven, taking the message of Isaiah to the next level. Heaven will be a banquet with fine wine and rich foods, served to those set free from the oppression of their enemy. The ultimate enemy is death; Jesus would overcome that enemy through His death and resurrection. He was about to fulfill God’s promises by setting the world free to be welcome into the heavenly banquet.

The people in our stories from Matthew over the past few weeks - the son who said yes but did not do the work of his father, the tenants who thought that they deserved the vineyard, so they killed the son, and today’s guests who ignored or rejected the wedding invitation - did not trust in God. They trusted in themselves, in their own righteousness. They are like those today who still ignore and reject the God who has offered salvation to all who believe. Unfortunately, in today’s passage we learn that there are some who accept the invitation but not the gift. They are the ones who are part of the Church but who have not truly accepted the free gift of God’s grace. They think that they are there according to their own works and righteousness. This is why it is so important to remember that we do not earn God’s grace but in His grace, we are called to live accordingly.

In ancient days, the host of a banquet gave clean robes to the guests. The people had traveled far on dusty roads; the robes were given so that the guests would feel fresh and clean for the feast. Rejection of the gift was disrespectful to the host, just as a rejection of Jesus Christ is a rejection of God’s grace.

The wedding garment here has nothing to do with the clothing we wear. It is the righteousness we wear. The robes of the priests and the leaders were a sign of their position and authority. It was also a sign of their piety. But the robe given at this wedding banquet is not self-attained by good works or human effort: it is the righteousness that comes from Christ. The warning in this text is for those who think they can attend church but hold on to their own ways. It is a warning to the hypocrites who claim to be faithful but live faithless lives.

See, the wedding robe represents the righteousness of Jesus Christ, the righteousness we receive by faith in Him. We can’t be right with God without Jesus, but God Himself has given us the robe to cover the filth of our sinful natures.

We might think that the guest was cast out because he had not changed his ways or repented of his “grime,” but the robes did not remove the dust and dirt from the road; the robes simply covered it. The guest without the robe was still a sinner, but so were all the other guests. It isn’t the act of wearing the robe that made the guests clean, it was the gift that made them right for the feast. This is how the righteousness of God works. We are still sinners in need of a Savior, but Jesus covers us with His righteousness so that we can attend the eternal feast in the presence of our God. We are simultaneously sinners and saints. The guest was not cast out because he was grimy and dirty from the road, but because he had rejected the gift.

Who are the chosen? We automatically put ourselves into that category, but we would do well to remember that we aren’t invited to the banquet because of our works. We don’t deserve the invitation; we are invited out of God’s grace. If we expect to enjoy the banquet based on our own good works, our own righteousness, we will be sadly mistaken. It is only by the gift of the wedding robe, the righteousness of Jesus Christ, that we will be received at the great and glorious banquet which God is planning for us.

God knew from the beginning of time that we would need Him. He knew we would fall. He knew we would be overcome by the world. He knew we would face terrible enemies. And He promised to be faithful. He promised to protect us against the storm and the heat of the sun. Knowing that God has promised these things and that He is faithful, God’s people can rejoice always.

We can rejoice because the day will come when everything will be right. Meanwhile, we sing songs of thanksgiving though the uncomfortable moments and trouble because we know that God is in control. He is with us and He can see beyond the moment. He has great things planned for those who love Him. There is a feast waiting for us, a feast we will enjoy forever. Our salvation is waiting for us on the other side of our fear and pain. Knowing this, we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, praising God for everything. It won’t be easy. Like Euodia and Syntyche, we will fight over our differences. There will be times when we are forced to live outside our comfort zone. Our world is broken and only God can make it right.

Euodia and Syntyche were probably fighting about something insignificant. We’ve all been there, though, haven’t we? It seems these days that we are even more a divided people, unable to agree about much. Our brokenness is obvious. We don’t seem to share the same mind, so Paul encourages us to approach our relationships differently. He teaches us to have the mind of Christ. He teaches us to rejoice always.

It isn’t so easy to rejoice always right now, is it? We have so much happening in our world that is causing us grief. We are afraid, not only of dis-ease, but of the future. We can’t talk to our neighbors without getting into an argument about politics. The streets in too many cities are more dangerous than ever. We are cut off from others in too many ways. Like Euodia and Syntyche, we even struggle loving brothers and sisters in Christ. We may not even realize how much we are struggling, but the brokenness of the world is affecting many people’s lives. Too many people are not happy, and it is manifesting in anger and hatred.

We have all received the same invitation and despite our sinfulness, Jesus has given us all the gift of His own righteousness, a robe to wear over our dirty and grimy selves. Despite our differences, we are drawn together into a banquet of unlimited grace, a promised eternal feast that we can enjoy even today. As we wait for eternity, we are called to join in the chorus of praise and thanksgiving, as we experience the peace and joy of living in God’s presence. We all wear dirty clothes under the garment of grace, but when find ourselves in the struggles of life, let us rejoice always because we know God has already made all things right. Our joy will help us let go of the stress and doubt and fear we because we know that God has already made all things right.

Eternity is going to be amazing. All the brokenness will be gone, and we will be whole and restored to a perfect relationship with God. We will celebrate at a great banquet that will last forever. There will be no more tears, no more dis-ease, no more stress or doubt or fear. We look forward to the day when we will praise God forever, but let us not wait, but begin today to rejoice in Him always, praising God for His gracious gift that brings us comfort and peace.