Year A Proper 23, 11 October 2026
St George’s Episcopal, Fredericksburg, VA
“Showing Up”
Collect: Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Philippians 4:1-9
My brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
Matthew 22:1-14
Once more Jesus spoke to the people in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. 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.’ But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ 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.
“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless. 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.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”
While the Gospel this morning is violent and off-putting, and reflects the use of force not uncommon in Jesus’ day, it is harsh to our ears today. It is easy to get hung up on the violence and abusive use of force. Today we are really going to talk about a party, and three folks who were invited and the one of the three that got to enjoy it.
This king decided to throw a party, a special party. His son, his heir and the next king, was getting married. This is a BIG DEAL. This is not a yearly party, like a birthday or the Superbowl. This was a once in a lifetime party. And the king could not have been more excited. He invited the best of the best, and thought for sure that they would all come. But he got back excuse after excuse after excuse. And that really hurt.
One of the people invited did not show up because they thought they were so important they did not need to honor the prince at his wedding, and did not worry what the king would feel. Now think about it. How do you think the king felt about his son? And how do you think he would feel about people dissing his son on his wedding day by not showing up? Or worse, by ghosting him and not saying a word as to why.
So what do you think the king would feel about these supposed best of the best who did not have the decency or respect to show up? We know the king resorted to violence and destruction when he “sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.”
So that’s the first of those invited. No show. And an enraged response.
So the king said, paraphrased, “We have the food. We have the party all set up. Go get anybody and everybody! I want this place to rock out tonight! My son is getting married!” So his staff went out and found people to come. They needed and wanted warm bodies. People who could party so the king’s fest could be great.
So out they went, and they filled the banquet hall with people to help the king celebrate.
Now the story gets a little weird here, because their culture was a little different. Back in those days people had a lot less, and life was significantly rougher. Just going down the street you could get covered in dust on dry days or mud on soggy ones. So when you showed up to people’s places, they took care of you. They would have staff to wash your feet, and clean you up. On a special occasion like this, where the king would have wanted everyone looking sharp, there would have been clean robes provided so that the guests looked sharp.
In our times, you might have a party hat or something festive you give your guests when they show up. Or imagine going to a concert with a friend and they hand you a VIP pass so you can really enjoy it. It is not that different. At least we are not having to bathe and clothe people showing up at our parties. Everyone who showed up probably needed some help getting ready and clean when they came in off the road.
So we get to the second guest we are going to talk about. The guy the king kicks out. You see, he wanted a full house. But he is still the king. And kings have standards. People were grabbed off the street, yes. But the robe and the clean-up involved were provided to those who came through the door.
Our first guest thought they were too good to show up. Our second guest, who the king kicked out, did not appreciate what was being offered. Maybe he thought he deserved this treatment, so did not bother to make an effort. So he did not clean-up or take the robe that the king would have freely given.
Friends, in Jesus’ story the King is God. And God wants a full house, but there are things we bring to the table. None of us, not one of us is too good that we do not need God or God’s Grace in our lives. And there is none of us, not one of us that does not need a clean-up and a garment fit for heaven. We all stand in need of Grace. We all need God’s help to make it. And the best part? God helps us get ready to accept all that is being offered.
We come into the equation. One of the great and subtle theological statements written into Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel in the Vatican is the Creation of Adam. Next time you see it, and because it is ubiquitous you will probably see it this week, look closely. Very closely.
God the Father, the stereotypical portrayal as the Old Man with the Beard, is surrounded by the heavenly host. And God is stretched out body, limb, hand, and pointer finger reaching out to to Adam. God is fully outstretched to make the connection. And we see Adam, just before he is filled with the breath of life, and he is reclined, and his arm is raised, but not fully. His hand is raised, but his finger is relaxed. God and all the heavenly host are awaiting for him to make the final step, to reach out and receive the gift of God that God so desperately wants him to take. God offers and takes away all barriers, but we have to accept that Grace. God does not force Godself on any of us.
So I said I was going to talk about three guests. One thought they were too good to go and missed out. One thought they did not need to change, even when it was free and offered, they stayed the same and put in no effort. The third I have not mentioned yet. The third is the one invited in, made ready, and got to enjoy the party. The third guest is YOU.
Each of us is showered with gifts each and every day. You are being showered with love. You did nothing to deserve it. I did not either. That is the definition of Grace. But God loved us despite our bad selves, and found a way to bring us into the party where we all are wanted and welcome. God forgives our sins, intended or not. God looks past our faults to the one he created and loves. But I have to show up. I have to appreciate what I am being offered. And, I have to start making the changes asked of me, to be more like Jesus each and every day.
And what does “be like Jesus” look like in the world we find ourselves in? I have to admit it, friends. I’m tired. And I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. I feel like we are living in Medieval times (not the restaurant), because everything is MID and most certainly EVIL. But seriously, sometimes we need to get centered and hear the simplicity of what we are to be about. St Paul in his letter to the Philippians sums it up well in our reading for today:
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
Rejoice always. Pray about everything. Guard your heart. Focus on what is best and do not let the world drag you down to its level. Keep on keeping on. And that is how we’ll get by.
Now back to the party. We talked about the “too good for it” elite who did not show. We talked about the one who showed up but did not live up to the most basic of expectations and took all of it for granted. But the third guest, each of us, can relish this life in God.
My hope for us is that we will clean up and put on things like Jesus. Be in this world and not of it. Do not let the world define who you are in Christ Jesus. If you are that third type of guest, you get to enjoy that party that never ends. Amen
nd put on things like Jesus. Be in this world and not of it. Do not let the world define who you are in Christ Jesus. If you are that third type of guest, you get to enjoy that party that never ends. Amen
