The Struggle for Acceptance

Gospel: Matthew 22: 1-14

Today's Gospel portion is challenging to understand on many levels.  First, we have an invitation to a royal wedding that is rejected by those initially invited. So, the king goes about picking up anyone he could in order to fill the banquet hall - with both the good and the bad.  Then, a man lacking a wedding garment is summarily dismissed from the venue.  If the banquet is an image for the kingdom of God, we are left wondering just what the criteria are for admission.

But we must understand this text in the setting of Matthew's community of people.  They were Jewish-Christians who found themselves expelled from the synagogues after the failure of the Jewish revolt against Rome.  They are no longer welcome in their original home.  At the same time, they are not entirely comfortable with Gentile Christians and welcoming them fully into their community.  Matthew's community is struggling with acceptance on various fronts.

That struggle continues to this very day.  Jesus welcomed all, that is clear.  His disciples, however, struggle with accepting others into their midst, a statement that applies to progressive, traditional, and all sorts of communities which can be just as rigid, self-righteous, judgmental, and dogmatic as any other against which they define themselves.  Today is a day to once again take up the challenge of Jesus to welcome and serve all.