MONDAY, MAY 16
READ MATTHEW 22:1-14
MATTHEW 22:1 Yeshua again used parables in speaking to them: 2 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding feast for his son, 3 but when he sent his slaves to summon the invited guests to the wedding, they refused to come. 4 So he sent some more slaves, instructing them to tell the guests, ‘Look, I’ve prepared my banquet, I’ve slaughtered my bulls and my fattened cattle, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding!’ 5 But they weren’t interested and went off, one to his farm, another to his business; 6 and the rest grabbed his slaves, mistreated them and killed them. 7 The king was furious and sent his soldiers, who killed those murderers and burned down their city.
8 “Then he said to his slaves, ‘Well, the wedding feast is ready; but the ones who were invited didn’t deserve it. 9 So go out to the street-corners and invite to the banquet as many as you find.’ 10 The slaves went out into the streets, gathered all the people they could find, the bad along with the good; and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11 “Now when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who wasn’t dressed for a wedding; so he asked him, 12 ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him outside in the dark!’ In that place people will wail and grind their teeth, 14 for many are invited, but few are chosen.”
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Many today share a fascination with royal weddings. Millions watched when Princess Diana and Prince Charles married. And “watch parties” met to view Kate Middleton and Prince William’s wedding. Would you consider not responding with a positive RSVP to a royal wedding? Or can you imagine sending out invitations only to discover on the day of the wedding that no one wants to attend?
Here in Matthew 22 we have a king who, after all the invitees regretfully decline, chooses to invite everyone willing to attend—good and bad. Can you picture a banquet hall full of fits and misfits? I can. You and I experience this every time we gather at the Communion table.
And what are we to make of the one who comes terribly underdressed for the occasion? Can you imagine not dressing appropriately for a royal wedding? Did he refuse to wear the wedding robe traditionally provided by the king? Unimaginable. Or is it?
How often have we refused to wear the “wedding robe”? Remember the time we thought we were better than them and didn’t have to wear the wedding robe? Or the time we felt that we were not worthy enough to wear it? Truth be told, all of us need the “wedding robe.” Wearing the robe covers a multitude of sins.
Jesus invites us all to his banquet—a feast of the finest gifts of grace. A feast for fits and misfits! Good and bad! You and me! And best of all, robes of forgiveness, love, and acceptance. Robes that cover our brokenness and remind us of our worthiness are freely and readily available for all of us to wear.
Gracious Host of all that is good, we accept your banquet invitation to abundant grace and love. We stand here in our robes, ready for the celebration! Amen.[ynthia Fierro Harvey]
Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey was ordained into deaconship in 1999 and eldership in 2001, both at the Texas Annual Conference. She was elected to the episcopacy in 2012, and currently serves in the Louisiana Area. Prior to her election, she served as deputy general secretary of The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).
Special Note: The image with the meditation was designed by Rev. Todd Pick and will be used in today’s worship service at General Conference.
Our mailing address is:
The Upper Room Strategic Initiatives
PO Box 340007
Many today share a fascination with royal weddings. Millions watched when Princess Diana and Prince Charles married. And “watch parties” met to view Kate Middleton and Prince William’s wedding. Would you consider not responding with a positive RSVP to a royal wedding? Or can you imagine sending out invitations only to discover on the day of the wedding that no one wants to attend?
Here in Matthew 22 we have a king who, after all the invitees regretfully decline, chooses to invite everyone willing to attend—good and bad. Can you picture a banquet hall full of fits and misfits? I can. You and I experience this every time we gather at the Communion table.
And what are we to make of the one who comes terribly underdressed for the occasion? Can you imagine not dressing appropriately for a royal wedding? Did he refuse to wear the wedding robe traditionally provided by the king? Unimaginable. Or is it?
How often have we refused to wear the “wedding robe”? Remember the time we thought we were better than them and didn’t have to wear the wedding robe? Or the time we felt that we were not worthy enough to wear it? Truth be told, all of us need the “wedding robe.” Wearing the robe covers a multitude of sins.
Jesus invites us all to his banquet—a feast of the finest gifts of grace. A feast for fits and misfits! Good and bad! You and me! And best of all, robes of forgiveness, love, and acceptance. Robes that cover our brokenness and remind us of our worthiness are freely and readily available for all of us to wear.
Gracious Host of all that is good, we accept your banquet invitation to abundant grace and love. We stand here in our robes, ready for the celebration! Amen.[ynthia Fierro Harvey]
Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey was ordained into deaconship in 1999 and eldership in 2001, both at the Texas Annual Conference. She was elected to the episcopacy in 2012, and currently serves in the Louisiana Area. Prior to her election, she served as deputy general secretary of The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).
Special Note: The image with the meditation was designed by Rev. Todd Pick and will be used in today’s worship service at General Conference.
Our mailing address is:
The Upper Room Strategic Initiatives
PO Box 340007
Nashville, Tennessee 37203, United States
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