Collect for Trinity 19
O God our Father without you we are not able to please you;
Mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Philippians 4: 1-9
Matthew 22: 1-14
Sounds a bit cruel to me- poor guy couldn’t even afford a coat and he gets thrown out on the street. I can understand the reaction to the refusal of the invited glitterati – they consider themselves too busy with their own priorities to be bothered turning up at a wedding breakfast bunfight given for a minor royalty who they probably don’t know. But you’d have thought that ordinary people would jump at being offered the chance for a free meal, and most of them are, except the coatless one.
But like a lot of situations, there is more going on than initially meets the eye. The first invitees – you might call them the ‘chosen ones’ – wouldn’t want to have the King’s son imposed on them. If they accept the invitation, it would be a declaration of loyalty and allegiance that they aren’t prepared to offer. They think they eat pretty well already on their mega -processed unwholesome diet. Shame really – they don’t realise what the consequence will be of their dismissal of the invitation. It ain’t going to end up good.
On the other hand, the poor and hungry on the street are presented with a life-saving opportunity – all they have to do is accept and demonstrate loyalty by putting on the robe they are offered, and a feast awaits them.
But here’s the point of the story, and the reason why the result of refusal is banishment. You see, they aren’t expected to own a robe already; the cost has already been paid for them. A robe is waiting for them at the King’s door, and the feast beckons. To want the feast but not the submission to the King’s authority isn’t the way it works.
Whoever we are – even unto this last -Jesus asks us to dine with Him. He has bought us the entrance fee. All He asks is that we accept Him as Lord.
Previous Posts
Praying Together 10th August 2025
And while we think of the things we value most, do we remember that we are of such value to God, that His Son was prepared to go into the flames for us?
Praying Together 27th July 2025
In a word, it is all prayer, a rich sequence, choreographed in different moments of gathering, praise, listening and communion.
Praying Together 20th July 2025
Jesus comes to us in many ways and with many faces. Are we aware we may ‘entertain Angels without knowing it?
Praying Together 13th July 2025
May we never miss meeting your gaze,
in the eyes of our sibling, the stranger.
Praying Together 6th July 2025
Always remember that ‘success’ is simply doing His will – it’s not necessarily achieving the outcome we would ourselves consider to be ‘successful’. Leave that definition with Him.
Praying Together 29th June 2025
Jesus is looking for commitment. Absolute, unconditional, commitment. When I think of what that means, I’m always minded of Martina Navratilova’s remark: “The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved; the pig is committed.”
Praying Together 22nd June 2025
As Christians, may we never regard mercy and compassion towards others as weakness, naivety or gullibility, but display the traits which demonstrate that we follow a Saviour who came to rescue those left behind.
Praying Together 15th June 2025
You couldn’t fly a kite inside a church building –for the Kite to fly you’d have to go into the windy street outside. Where does that place the need for the Spirit to act?
Praying Together 8 June 2025
Of all the strange things happening on the Day of Pentecost, perhaps the most puzzling is when God appears to have second thoughts. In Genesis 11, He makes it difficult for people to understand each other’s language
Praying Together 1st June 2025
The song by Mary Black, ‘Bless the Road’, while written as from a parent whose child is leaving home alone for the first time – maybe first day at primary school, going to college, beginning an independent life – always puts me in mind of the thoughts and blessing of Jesus as He prays for His disciples before His Ascension.
Praying Together 25th May 2025
‘Peace I give to you… do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.’
His peace is not remote and only there at the end of things – His Peace is with us now.
Praying Together 18th May 2025
So the commandment is a challenge. To love those who betray you. Those who jeer. Those who wield the whips embedded with flint, hammer in the nails, pierce your side.