Trinity 20

October 13, 2024

Text: Matthew 22:1-14

If you take a step back and look at the totality of Holy Scripture, it’s the story of a marriage and the wedding feast to follow.

First, go to the beginning, go to the Garden of Eden. God creates Adam from the dust of the earth and entrusts him with the care and stewardship of His garden. But it’s recorded in Genesis, “Then the LORD God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.’” (Genesis 2:18)

What follows is the establishment of the first marriage, the first wedding, as we then read;

So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said,

             “This at last is bone of my bones

                        and flesh of my flesh;

             she shall be called Woman,

                        because she was taken out of Man.” (Genesis 2:21-23)

The intimacy of their creation made them one flesh, united and cared for by their Creator.

In this marriage, they received everything needful for this life; they had the Garden’s food and one another’s companionship. They toiled together happily as they carried out the tasks God entrusted to them.

Until they didn’t.

You know what happened next, how Satan tempts Eve to take from the forbidden tree, how she eats, then gives to Adam to eat. Together, they turn away from God’s Word, fall into sin, and discover they are naked, all while bringing humanity into lives of disobedience and ongoing divorce.

The etymology or origins of the word “divorce” comes from the Latin word divortium, which means “separation.” And this is what man does in the Garden; he separates himself from God, His will, and His Word.

Yet, the first Gospel message that follows in Genesis reveals that the Father and Creator of the World would not leave His fallen creation but send a Bridegroom to rescue and redeem her as God spoke to Satan,

            I will put enmity between you and the woman,

                        and between your offspring and her offspring;

             he shall bruise your head,

                        and you shall bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15)

This, of course, leads your eyes to the cross where Jesus, the Bridegroom, fulfills His Father’s vow and the purpose He was sent, to sacrifice Himself and redeem His bride, the Church, to redeem and purchase back you who have turned away like Adam and Eve, divorcing yourself from His Word.

It’s for this reason we hear today’s Gospel. To jolt us to repentance, to return and be clothed again in our baptismal identities, and to lead us to the foretaste of the wedding feast now prepared for us by Christ Jesus at this altar.  

However, who will listen to the call of Bridegroom and come to this wedding feast prepared by Jesus?

This question is at the core of the parable in today’s Gospel reading.

The kingdom of heaven is compared to a wedding feast, and as the Gospel ends, “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Here is how the parable unfolds.

The King, your heavenly father, prepared a feast in honor of His Son, Jesus.

Those invited were the people of Israel. But throughout time, they not only rejected God and His Word, but they also rejected His only Son, the Bridegroom.

In fact, not only did they pay no attention to the prophets and messengers God sent to call them to the feast, but they killed them. Think of John the Baptist and how he was beheaded, for instance.

But this doesn’t end things; instead, the King now sends His servants with His word of invitation to gather anyone they could find, both good and bad, so that the wedding hall might be filled to the brim with guests.

This is interesting, too, as there are no restrictions on the invitation to the feast except what you wear, and this might strike you at first glance: What does God care about what you wear to church?

You must have a wedding garment.

Now, wedding garments were something provided to guests by the host as they entered the banquet. Not having a wedding garment was offensive and disrespectful.

Reflect back to when Adam and Eve fell into sin. As they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they became aware that they were naked, and they felt shame. While they attempted to clothe themselves, and they did, the true clothing they needed came from God—it was Him who would clothe them.

Likewise, everyone who enters the wedding feast must first be clothed with a wedding garment by the host, by God. 

This is the challenge for the one found in the wedding hall without the proper wedding garment. He thought he could enter this great banquet on his own accord and, according to his own good works and deeds.

However, the only way into this feast is to be clothed by Christ and His sacrificial death upon the cross.

So, how are you clothed by Christ?

Look to Ruth Marie this morning. As she was baptized, the Old Adam that already clings to her heart and flesh was drowned in the death of Christ Jesus, and then, by His Word, she was raised to new life.

In fact, near the end of the rite, you heard these words, “Receive the white, holy, and spotless robe which you shall bring before the judgment seat of Christ so as to receive eternal life.”

To enter the wedding feast is to live and be clothed by Christ Jesus in your Baptism.

You cannot enter the kingdom of heaven on your own, but only through the cross and sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.

Again, we heard at the end of the Gospel, “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Many hear the Gospel of Christ, but few take it to heart, abide in it, and are led by it.

We, too, are tempted like those [in the Gospel] to be occupied by earthly matters. Our schedules are so full of school activities, the fear of missing out on family engagements, or even for some of you who have retired – you say your schedule is fuller now than it was when you worked.

Yet, I implore you not to put off gathering with the saints of God and be clothed by Him and His righteousness.

Hear these words from the prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament reading,

“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)

God wants to pardon your sins, clothe you in His forgiveness, and unite you with Him both now and in eternity.

So, seek Him where He is to be found.

Continue to enter His presence with Ruth through the waters of Holy Baptism, confessing your sin and being clothed in His forgiveness. Then be led to this altar where you will receive a foretaste of the wedding feast already prepared for you in the flesh and blood of your Savior Jesus Christ.

This is where the whole Christian life is leading you to the ongoing wedding feast of Christ Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world and redeems His bride, the Church.

This is the story of Holy Scripture; it’s how things begin and how they end, as we read 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, the marriage of the Lamb has come; receive it now and be adorned in the garment of salvation today and always.  +INJ+

Rev. Noah J. Rogness

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Tomah, WI