For every call of the Lord we must answer: “Yes, I’m ready”

Sermon of Archpriest Alexander Abramov in week 14 after Pentecost from the book “whosoever will may come. Conversations on Sundays and feast the gospel reading,” published in the publishing house “Nike”.

  • The spiritual meaning of the wedding garment
  • When the Lord calls us
  • Forbidden fruit and the wedding
  • The parable of the dinner party: when there are no guarantees

Jesus, continuing to speak to them in parables, and said, the Kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding Banquet for his son and sent his servants to call those invited to the wedding; and did not want to come. Again he sent other servants, saying, tell those who are invited: behold, I have prepared dinner my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and everything is ready; come to the wedding feast. But they, despising and went off — one to his field, and who trade their own, seizing his servants, insulted and killed them. On hearing this, the king was angry, and sent his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, the wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy; so go to the street corners and all, ye shall find, bid to the marriage. And those servants went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. The king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man not dressed in wedding clothes, and saith unto him, friend! how did you get in here without wedding clothes? He was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, bind him hand and foot, take him away and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth; for many are called, but few are chosen.

MF. 22: 1-14

The Lord sends to different people, which are called invited, that is invited. And that He did not know that He will be denied? He did not Imagine the reaction of those to whom addressed? Knows and represents. But still calls them. Calling in the hope to fix, in the hope that they will meet evil. And finally, calling to say that he called many, but chosen few. Many are called, but few are chosen. But this is not the end of amazing things connected with this gospel text.

When evil men to kill the servants, retribution comes inevitably. And the dinner parties become enemies of God. What immediate and irreversible change. And then sent the slaves we see in them the prototype of the apostles — are at a crossroads, that is worldwide, because the crossroads is peace. And collect all. These gathered, someone called, of course, were not ready. They maybe didn’t know where they were invited. Knew only that it would be peaceful, calm, possible, fun. They were invited and they refused. What is the point to talk about the wedding garment on readiness for the feast?

Among all this probably promiscuous public master suddenly stops his eyes on the man who is not ready. And prints it out. And his fate is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Why master of the feast did? It is important for us to understand the direct connection between this gospel reading to our own lives. We all just stand in the way of churching, just learning to be Christians. We have our own lives, we go on all sorts of junctions of roads. And here we come sent from the Master. Or come, if not yet come. They can come when the Church is experiencing a period of relative prosperity. And can — in conditions of persecution, when the Church hard. And they will call us: “I need You Lord, need you Lord.” And then we should not evade the fact that it is not ready.

We have to learn to behave so that the Lord didn’t tell us: “Why are you not wearing a wedding garment?” What is this wedding garment? The wedding garment is the willingness to respond to the call of God. Each of us will call in their own way, each God will speak his words. And everyone has to agree. Say, “Lord, I’m all Yours.” And not only to say but to respond.

For every call of the Lord that comes to us through people or by whatever means, we must answer: “Yes, I’m ready.” This wedding garment the Savior distinguish His from someone He mentions in another place of the gospel: Not everyone glagola Mi: Lord, Lord, enter into the Kingdom of heaven (Matt. 7: 21).

And how to respond to the call of God is always there. To help in the temple, restoring it and donating for it. To help those who are heavier than us, live. Yes, just hold back and say angry words ready to fall from her lips. Yes, just to do his job honestly and decently. All this if we do it for God, answering His call, prepares us and weaves for us the wedding garment, that we to Christ for the feast to come peacefully and in God’s way.

Here wish all of you, myself, everyone of us. Lord, let us not be told the words: “Begone there!” And may we be told the words, “Enter into the joy of your Lord”.

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