For instance, take this story... (in a very paraphrased version of Matthew 22:1-14)
A king was preparing a wedding banquet for his son. The preparations were well underway. The chef had been consulted and a special meal had been planned. Decorations had been ordered and were being prepared. The clothing for the special day was being worked on, each thread and each stitch carefully prepared. The invitation list was arranged, family, friends, associates – everyone to come and celebrate this very special day.
Then, on the day of the wedding, the servants left the castle to go collect the guests. The limo pulls up in front of their home and someone goes to knock at the door. However, when they arrived at the homes, all they heard was excuses.
“I would like to come, but...”
“Oh, I forgot it was today and I promised I would...”
“I just can’t possibly go today...”
The servants return back to the king, their limos empty, the flowers and decorations not being admired, the smell of the sumptuous meal not being sniffed. The king said to some other servants, “Go and tell them that everything is ready, tell them about the meal. Remind them that this is for their king and their king’s son.”
Yet the people still refused to come. Instead, they were mistreated.
“I thought I already told you...”
“You are trespassing; I’m calling the police....”
“That’s it, they came back – let’s get ‘em...”
The king was furious. These were his servants, being sent to the people were under his rule! How dare they act in such a manner and on such a special day? They were in effect not only turning up their noses at celebrating this day, but now were being rebellious and murderous. The king turned his attention now not to his servants, but to his soldiers. He sent the soldiers to the murderers and they were destroyed. The town was burned.
The king went back to his servants; I have taken care of that group which was invited. They did not deserve to come. But, we still must celebrate this special day. Go out again and invite anyone you can find. The servants left again, they invited everyone they could find and soon the hall was filled. Both the good and bad, both those with well known social status and the invisible. They filled the hall, the smelled the smells, the admired the views.
The king entered the hall to see the guests. He had prepared, every special garment was in place. He looked around and saw one man who was not wearing wedding clothes.
“How did you get in here without wedding clothes?” the king asked.
The man was speechless. The king went to the attendants, this man did not come prepared. Throw him out. “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
So, let’s let the story digest....
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