Daily Readings - Thu Aug 23 2018
Ezekiel
23And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.24For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.25Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.26A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.27And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.28And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
Matthew
1And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,2The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,3And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.4Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.5But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:6And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.7But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.8Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.9Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.10So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.11And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:12And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.13Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.14For many are called, but few are chosen.
Sermon
The readings today offer a powerful message about God’s invitation, transformation, and our response to His call. In the first reading from Ezekiel, we hear of God’s promise to restore His people. He vows to pour clean water over them, cleansing them from their sins and idols, and to give them a new heart and a new spirit. This is not merely a physical cleansing but a spiritual transformation, enabling them to live according to His will. Ezekiel’s prophecy speaks to a people in exile, separated from their homeland and their covenant with God. Yet, God’s mercy and faithfulness shine through, as He promises to gather them back and renew their relationship with Him.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the wedding feast, where a king invites guests to celebrate his son’s wedding. Despite the king’s generous invitation, the guests refuse to come, some even mistreating and killing the servants sent to call them. The king’s patience is met with ingratitude, leading to judgment. Yet, the feast is not canceled; instead, the king opens it to anyone who will come, both good and bad. However, when the king enters, he notices a guest without a wedding garment—a symbol of the spiritual preparation and reverence required to truly participate in the feast. This guest is cast out, reminding us that responding to God’s invitation requires more than just presence; it demands a willingness to be transformed and to live in accordance with His will.
Together, these readings remind us that God’s invitation to us is both gracious and urgent. Ezekiel emphasizes the transformative power of God’s Spirit, which cleanses and renews us. The Gospel, on the other hand, highlights the need for a proper response to this invitation—a response marked by repentance, gratitude, and a commitment to living as children of God. In our daily lives, we are called to accept God’s invitation with humility and openness, allowing His Spirit to transform us. Let us not take His mercy for granted, but rather, let us strive to live in a way that reflects our identity as His people, clothed in the garments of faith, love, and obedience.