Year A Proper 22 WED 2026 Showing Up

Year A Proper 22 WEDNESDAY, 7 October 2026

Anna Julia Cooper School Chapel

“Showing Up”

Collect (for Proper 23): 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.

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.”

Today we are 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?

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?

So that’s the first invited. No show.

So the king said, “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. 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.

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 I hope is you.

You are being showered with gifts each and every day. And you are being showered with love. You did nothing to deserve it. I did not either. 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. 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.

My hope for you is that the third guest is you. That you will clean up and put on things like Jesus. If you are that third type of guest, you get to enjoy that party that never ends. Amen