The document is a sermon given by Deacon Jim Knipper at Oratory Prep in Summit, NJ. In the sermon, Deacon Knipper summarizes the gospel reading about a king throwing a wedding banquet. He explains that the invitation is open to all people, regardless of background or life choices, representing God's unconditional love and mercy. While the invitation is there for all, each person must choose to accept it. Deacon Knipper urges the congregation to respond to God's invitation with love, compassion, and surrender.

1. 15 October 2017 28th
Sunday in Ordinary Time Princeton, NJ
Earlier this morning I had the opportunity to go back to my high school alma mater Oratory Prep in
Summit NJ to preach at the Father and Son breakfast. It was 44 years ago that I was at the same
breakfast with my Dad and trying to figure out what High School was all about. While just about all my
friends went to the local public high school (where they had girls!)…my parents and I had decided that a
catholic education at Oratory was the right thing for me – a decision that I have never regretted.
High School was a time in my life where I learned that part of growing up meant making more and more
decisions that affect my life. Some were easier than others: what after school activities to join, what new
friends to hang out with and how to deal with the new work load of a prep school. Later on in life, though,
the decisions carry more weight: what college to attend, what job to take, who to marry, when to have
kids, where to live…and you soon realize that your life is filled with endless decisions. But hopefully
decisions that are rooted in a solid foundation – that began at home and now nurtured here.
You may have noted that the Gospel ended on a wrenching note. “Many are invited, but few are chosen?”
And unfortunately it is one of those lines in the Bible that is often misread, misunderstood and misused –
in two main ways. It is cited by some who feel it necessary to exclude people from the Church and...it is
used as the mantra by those who are convinced that the Kingdom of Heaven is something that has to be
earned – that only those few who jump through the right hoops will be “chosen.” But once you take a look
at what is really happening, the deeper meaning and the true message of Christ comes forth. For this
week’s Gospel is all about the choices we make, the ramifications of those decisions and the invitation
that is out there for all people.
To fully understand this parable you must take a careful look at the context of where and to whom this
parable was spoken. Jesus is back in Jerusalem and teaching in the temple…and the Chief Priests and
Pharisees confront the Christ asking him who gave him his authority to teach as he does. And instead of
a direct answer, Jesus tells them a series three parables, all focused on “choices made.” Jesus is
attempting to get their attention to think differently, choose differently and to open their eyes to his
teachings of the Kingdom of God. We began this triptych of parables two weeks ago and each story has
been building upon the other as Jesus uses words and imagery to jolt the Priests and Pharisees,
culminating with the shocking ending of today’s Gospel – the words of exclusion – that only some are
“chosen.” This concept of God supposedly choosing some and not others was something deeply rooted
in the beliefs of the Pharisees...and still carried by many today. But the point that Jesus is making in the
parable is that it is not God who is doing the choosing – it is all of us. See what I mean…
Whereas the past two parables were set in the vineyard, this week the setting is a wedding banquet. And
in first century Jerusalem it was customary that the one throwing the wedding would send out save-the-
date notices - similar to what we do today. Then as the wedding drew nearer another invitation would be
sent out. Some historians even say that it was the tradition for the person throwing the party, as a gift, to
provide clothing for everyone to wear. And since the King was hosting the party you have to assume the
first invited were the elite of society and there was an expectation that they would all come.
Yet, no one comes. So the King sends out his servants to remind those who were on the ‘A’ list to come
to the feast. But all those invited had decided not to come, with some slaying the messengers…So in
retribution, the King sends out his troops to burn their cities.
Knowing that he still has a feast waiting to be tasted, the King decides that this first batch of invitations
must have been sent out to those unworthy. So he sends his servants out again, this time to invite anyone
they can find: good and bad alike – (people like you and me!) And soon the hall is filled with all kinds of
people. But one character decides to show up without wearing the wedding clothes he was most likely
given. To not accept the gift and wear the clothes was rude and offensive. Thus he didn’t pay the
slightest respect for host and, in his own way, decides not to fully accept the invitation that was given to
him.
1 Deacon Jim Knipper

2. Keep in mind that Jesus is telling this story directly to the religious leaders who were questioning his
authority. For they are the ones insisting that they are God's gatekeepers and will determine who gets in
and who doesn't. And they have no interest in listening to Jesus’s teachings about love and compassion,
much less inclusion. In this parable they are the ones that are really being likened to the King – not God.
Jesus is comparing this king, who is driven by anger and vengeance and exclusion, against the teaching
of his own peaceable kingdom which operates on an entirely different foundational principle of…mercy.
The two are radically different.
These last few verses of the story, who some feel were added in as part of another parable, was Christ's
way of saying to the Pharisees that they, too, have been invited but are too arrogant, too focused on their
position of power and too fixated on fostering a culture of separation.
So what are we supposed to walk away with? What is the message for us this morning?
Actually the answer was given to us in the first reading...
"On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and pure, choice wines.
On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, the web that is woven over all nations; he
will destroy death forever. And the Lord God will wipe away the tears from every face."
Clearly the feast is provided to all people.
Here, at St. Paul’s we do a great number of weddings. One reason is that we have a beautiful, classic
gothic church which brides love. But I think one of the main reasons is because we welcome couples
who come to us with a variety of life situations. Couples who made all kinds of decisions in their lives and
now want to come before God and their community and the family and profess their love for each other
and God - promising to raise their children in the faith.
A few years ago Pope Francis presided over the marriage of 20 couples in a historic wedding ceremony
in Rome. Notably, among the couples married at the Mass were some who had children, some who were
already cohabitating, and some who were previously married. In an act of compassion, Francis married
couples whose circumstances reflected the reality of modern sexual and marital habits. This set the tone
for subsequent years of work within our Church in Rome on how we can better respond to the many
challenges of family life with mercy and compassion. As with so many things our Pope has done since
his election – it is aimed as an invitation to all people to have Christ as center of their life.
That is the core take-away to today’s Gospel. The invitation is there for all – but the choice is yours as to
what you want to do with it. You can decide to opt out of the King’s wedding – and choose to be
miserable, selfish, judging others and reject the invitation to the banquet. But despite what you do - God
is still throwing a party, and we are all invited. The feast will continue with or without you.
I can stand up here and preach till my heart's content about God's love - but it always carries the footnote
that we are the ones who need to respond to that invitation with love, joy, compassion, generosity and
pure surrender. Our response matters. Our behavior matters. Our participation matters. Our intentions
matter. Our actions matter.
The Kingdom of God is not something to be earned….rather it is here and now. It is your call – your
choice. You decide.
2 Deacon Jim Knipper