Our Gospel tells us that we have each received an invitation to a wedding feast. In fact, we can say that each of us who have been baptized are already present in the banquet hall of this great celebration. We are present because through our baptism we were conformed to Christ. Through our baptism we were washed clean from the original sin that we inherit from Adam and Eve and are thus forever oriented towards Christ. Through our baptism in the Church we have been forever marked as one who is currently on a path that leads towards the Kingdom of Heaven. I therefore must say that baptism remains most important because it is a necessary sacrament for us to receive because it places us in the banquet hall of this great celebration, it extends to us the further possibility of being nourished at the altar of God by Christ's Body and Blood, and it leads us towards being sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation.
We cannot make the mistake of not always remaining on guard just because we are present in this banquet hall through our baptism. We cannot make the mistake to say that I was baptized, I have received the Holy Eucharist, & I have even made the decision to be confirmed, so therefore when I die the Kingdom of Heaven will be owed to me simply through these merits. In the words of our Gospel: "Many are invited, but few are chosen." The man who was cast out of this banquet hall was not found properly dressed for such an occasion. He decided that he would attend this wedding feast without first taking the time to be properly dressed in a wedding garment. He received the invitation to attend this wedding feast and yet he did not go onto make the prudent decision to come to this celebration properly dressed. Again, we find ourself gathered in this banquet hall through our baptism when we to were clothed with a white garment. St. Gregory of Nyssa said: "Thou hast driven us out of paradise and called us back; Thou hast taken away the fig leaves, that garment of our misery, & clothed us once more with the robe of glory."
Indeed, we have each been clothed with this "robe of glory" through our baptism. The problem is that we often forget about what took place for us on this day and have instead wondered throughout our life allowing ourself to be separated from Christ. Surely we cannot say that a life that has been separated from Christ can truly be rewarding because our Gospel testifies that people will be turned away from the Wedding Feast which they had not only received an invitation to, but actually showed up and were present in the banquet hall. We to already find ourself in this banquet hall because we have entered into baptism, but we don't always act as if we are worthy to have such a great gift bestowed upon us. The gift that we await is already felt here on this earth because at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass Heaven comes to meet earth.
At the Mass we come to behold the bridegroom who is Jesus Christ who has entered into marriage with the Church and thus we are each invited to grow into a deeper relationship with Him. Through the words of consecration that we hear at the Mass we join with Christ whose love is so great for each of us that it is consummated in the handing over of His body for the many who share in His eternal covenant. In this action Heaven truly comes to meet earth and we are each given a glimpse into the reward that we will one day be able to further participate within. In Heaven there will be no more sickness nor death, but instead what we will discover is the peace of being in the presence of God who is the creator of all things. May we not allow ourself to become sidetracked from participating in this reality, but instead may we always be found properly dressed in our wedding garment as we await this joyous occasion. This wedding garment was given to each of us as a great "robe of glory" through our baptism, but we can and do reject such a gift through the ways that we live our life to the point where God will be forced to say: "My friend, how is it that you came here without a wedding garment?"
With this statement we are not being called upon to do the impossible, but we are each asked to take up the struggle of our cross daily which will lead us to triumph over our sin instead of simply growing comfortable to it. May we continue to allow ourself to bear the weight of the cross and to also trust in the great gift that is the Church which through the sacraments continue to strengthen us to be found properly dressed in the wedding garment that is necessary for such a wondrous celebration as the Kingdom of Heaven. If we can trust and allow ourself to struggle with the cross and living out the life of the sacraments we will indeed be found worthy on the day of judgement to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven where we will truly discover true beauty and peace. May we allow nothing to impede this relationship in order that we may be found properly dressed on the day of judgement to enter into the house of the Lord.
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