2026 Pentecost Devotions III
Saturday, October 10
Matthew 22:1-14
1 Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’ 5 But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ 10 Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad, so the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, 12 and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”
“… ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy.’ …”
“Who is worthy to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion?”
This was the final test question for several young students who had been receiving instruction for their first time at the communion table. It was asked by a colleague of mine who always had another zinger up his sleeve. It was meant to cause these students to consider their worthiness before the Lord’s table. It was also a “trick” question.
Thankfully, the savvy students were aware of my colleague’s antics. They had also paid close attention in the classroom. They knew that the body and blood of Jesus offered them at the communion table had been purchased at a price. That price was the death of Jesus on the cross. They understood that Jesus had died for them so that their sins would be forgiven, and that the gift of forgiveness came with the added bonus of eternal life for those who believe.
Through the waters of baptism, they recognized themselves as children of God, inheritors of eternal life, members of the body of Christ – the Church, and recipients of the Holy Spirit. They believed that all this was a gift given to them by God through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and that they had done nothing to earn or deserve it. Still, they were invited to dine with the Lord at His table. It was a pure gift of God’s grace – God’s unconditional love.
“No one is worthy!” they responded. No, not one.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the gift of grace that invites us to dine with You at the table despite our unworthiness. Amen.