Pentecost 20

Text: Matthew 22:1-14

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

In many ways, with my installation last week, we began a marriage (you and I). It's a time of great joy but also filled with anxiousness. Much like a young couple, you don't truly get to know your spouse until you begin living and working together. But that is what these new days for us are all about - learning, growing, and getting to know one another. 

Scripture also begins with a wedding, which started in the Garden of Eden as Eve is formed from the side of Adam. They were to live in harmony and peace. But, they departed from God's command, became unworthy, and were expelled from the Garden. Thus, the story of Adam and Eve is and remains our story. However, it's not the end of the story.

However, like installations, weddings are joyful events. For a bride, her wedding is often seen as the day of days, the coronation of her life. You can just picture the train of her dress now. Or so the fairy tales go…

But, in the Gospel today, there is not much joy or happiness regarding the wedding described.

The wedding was set, the food prepared, the invitations sent out, everything was ready.

Yet, no one came; the guests “made light of the [wedding].” They were uninterested in the grand celebration. Rather than joining the joyous event, they departed to the tasks of the day, their farms, and their businesses. Who are these people? Who doesn’t enjoy a good time?

They are the Chief Priests and the Pharisees. It’s Holy Week.

Before our Gospel today, Jesus has just spoken to them the parable of the wicked tenants who threw out, beat, and killed the master’s son of the vineyard. Now, He continues to speak to these Chief Priests and Pharisees regarding Israel’s persistent rejection of God’s invitation to His banquet.

The rejection of the King comes to completion as Jesus would be arrayed and enthroned upon the cross in mere days. The rejection and destruction at the hands of armies foretold in the parable also came to fruition in the demise and destruction of Jerusalem some 30-40 years later.

Has anything changed since that first Holy Week? Or is the feast still ready? Do the people of Earth continue to make light of it? Do they brush off the invitation, treating the servants who have been sent spitefully, even putting some to death? Sadly, the answer to these questions is yes.

Now, most of us have not endured the experiences of martyrs; we have not met that fury. But, as a pastor, the concern for the flock persists.

Yet, throughout the past few years, our world has transformed quicker than we’ve ever imagined. Not everyone continues to hear the weekly invitation and enters the Lord's sanctuary at Good Shepherd.

As employment has entered our homes through telework, Christians have likewise become comfortable living out their vocations without venturing beyond their doors' threshold. Do you need food? Order online and pull up to the curb. Do you need clothing? Amazon. Do you need to attend a work meeting? Zoom. Do you need Jesus? Change the tab of your browser and see what the church down the road is doing.

Church now comes to anyone who desires, ready to be consumed as any other commerce within our lives. This is not to say technology is the devil (although some of you would disagree); it can be a blessing, too.

But, the invitation to the wedding is meant to be incarnational. Christ took on human flesh and dwelt among us. Likewise, we are called to be present physically and in the presence of one another as we gather every Divine Service, just as we hear in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, “be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:18-20)

Well, that’s what we’re doing here, right?

But today’s Gospel asks the question, are you here? Are you present in thought, word, and deed? Do you possess true faith in Christ Jesus? Have you been made worthy?

Outwardly, you were all baptized. You come and continually listen to the Word of God and confess the ancient creeds of faith. You even understand the doctrine of the Lutheran Church and have defended it throughout your conversations. You are not easily moved to anger; you are humble and seek forgiveness – even seeking out those you have wronged to confess or permitting yourself to be rebuked when you have trespassed against your neighbor.

Yes, it all looks good.

But, todays Gospel is speaking about the heart of man, your heart and mine, is not right. It’s the heart that does not trust in Jesus alone. Therefore, words and works do not proceed out of true faith – we are caught simply going through the motions to possess the appearance of being pious and upright. We are the guest without the wedding garment.

Just as Jesus saw the rejection in the hearts of the Pharisees of last week’s Gospel, He continues to see our heart this day; there is no hiding from His judgment. So here is why we should take to heart the words we confess each day in the Creed, “From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.”

These are powerful words to confess – words of judgment, yet words of peace for those who call upon the Lord with a true heart.

As Isaiah wrote:
“Seek the LORD while he may be found;
                 call upon him while he is near;
         let the wicked forsake his way,
                  and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
          let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him,
         and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6-7)

My friends, do not waste time, but examine yourselves before the Lord returns. Turn not only your body but your heart toward God. He is near in His Word of grace – through His compassion, He will hear your confession and grant you pardon and peace. He will give you His Holy Spirit to call, gather, and enlighten your way and the way of the whole Christian Church on earth until His return.

This is what the gift of Holy Baptism does; it grants you the Holy Spirit to call, gather, and enlighten your way and the way of the whole Christian Church on earth so that you may journey confidently through this earthly life that leads to the last day – when Christ returns to “to judge the living and the dead.”

So, until that day arrives, we must return to our Baptisms daily, drowning the Old Adam within by going the way of confession and absolution, which in turn leads us along the paths of righteousness, the path of forgiveness, the path that leads to the great wedding hall that awaits.

And for this reason, pastors are sent. Not only to get to know the sheep but to shepherd them throughout this life and unto eternal life in Christ Jesus.

You know, just as the first book of Scripture begins with a wedding, so the last concludes as it is written in the book of Revelation:
           Let us rejoice and exult
                  and give him the glory,
          for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
                  and his Bride has made herself ready;
         it was granted her to clothe herself
                  with fine linen, bright and pure” (Revelation 19:7-8)

Friends, come, make yourselves ready, rejoice, and receive the foretaste of the marriage feast the Lamb has prepared for you. Receive His forgiveness. And in faith, remain ready for Christ's return to gather you and all who are adorned with the garment of salvation into His eternal kingdom. +INJ+

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI