15 October 2017 St. Athanasius Lutheran
Church
Pentecost 19
Vienna, VA
“Washed, Dressed, and
Worthy”
Text:
Matthew 22:1-14 (Isaiah 25:6-9; Philippians 4:4-13;
and Introit: Isaiah 61:10)
Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God
our Father, and from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
His name was Jacob. He
was proud of his name. He was named after the venerable Patriarch, the son of
Isaac, the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. That was special to him,
though he was no one special. He was, in fact, about the farthest thing
from special. He was a lowly laborer, born to poor parents who were laborers.
He didn’t have much, but he was content. He considered himself fortunate to
have gotten the job he did - a stone mason. Actually, that was just a fancy
name for a rock cutter. But it was good work and enabled him to earn a living,
however poor and meager it may have been. There were plenty
of folks worse off than him, he reminded himself.
But one day, he noticed,
things were different. He was working not too far from the king’s house when he
noticed activity had increased. In fact, the place was abuzz. Servants coming
and going, decorations and special buildings were
being put up, orders being barked out. He wondered what the special event was. A visiting dignitary, perhaps? The king’s
birthday? Whatever it was, he wasn’t looking forward to that day - it
would be a hassle. Lots of extra security, guards, questions - his work and
daily life would be disrupted. Ach! Maybe he would just stay home that day.
Well, the preparations
went on for sometime and his curiosity got the best
of him. When one of the king’s servants passed by where he was working, he
called out and asked him what was happening? What was the special event? A wedding!
was the reply. The king’s son! Ah, now it made sense.
The king only had one son, whom he loved very much. This was going to be the
wedding feast to end all weddings feasts! How lucky would be those who were
invited.
And then they day came.
The castle looked incredible - better than it ever had before. The magnificence
of it all was breathtaking. Jacob had thought about staying home to avoid all the hubbub that day, but the bill collector had just
recently stopped by - he needed the money. And he was now kind of glad he was
there. This was a sight to behold!
But . . . it was strange
. . . where were all the guests? Where were the crowds? The servants returned
as usual, but the guests weren’t with them. That was weird. Then he saw more
servants go and come back alone as well. What were they saying? He strained
hard to overhear . . . Idiots! Don’t they know the king has spared no
expense? This is no day for them to stay home and work, shoveling manure on
their farm and balancing the books. Idiots!
And then, what was this?
More servants returned, not mumbling but groaning! They had been beaten, and
they were even carrying one who had been killed! Jacob dropped a stone on his
foot when he saw that. He never dropped a stone! This day was not making any
sense . . .
But then something did
make sense - he saw royal troops leave the king’s compound in a hurry. They
were out for bear. You could tell it by the looks on their faces and the
weapons in their hands. Revenge, no doubt, for what the people had done to the
king’s servants. Why hadn’t they come? Why were they so spiteful? A free feast
of rich food, well-aged wine, of rich food full of
marrow, of aged wine well refined. Why would you turn that
down? Couldn’t the farm work wait? Couldn’t you balance the books tomorrow? He
pitied those people doubly.
But before the troops
could return, he heard more servants leave the king’s house. What would happen
next? What would he see this time? He wished he could leave. It was getting
late in the day and he was tired and just wanted to go home. But they didn’t go
the way they did before - in fact, they were walking toward . . . him!
But they weren’t mad, like the troops - they looked . . . joyful. They
came over to him, Jacob, and said . . . what? The king wanted . . . what? Who?
Me? No! Yes? Now? But I’ve worked all day! I’m dirty.
I think I broke my toe. I stink. I’m not worthy to go.
The king wants you to
come, they said. Those others who were invited and
refused to come are not worthy. Don’t worry about yourself - we’ll take care of
everything. We’ll get you washed up and give you a wedding garment to wear. You’re
going to love it! You think it looks good from here? Wait til
you see the inside!
Still in disbelief, they
grabbed Jacob by the arm and dragged, him, limping, into the king’s compound.
He still didn’t believe what was happening. Was he dreaming? They gave him the
royal treatment. He had never worn clothes like this before - so soft and new.
He almost felt like a son of the king himself. And then they took him into the
banquet hall. Oh my! He didn’t know there was that much gold in all the world! And they didn’t seat him in the back - but
right up front! Right near the king’s table. And the food started coming and
the wine started flowing . . . he forgot all about the throbbing in his toe.
Until . . . he looked up
and saw the look on the king’s face. He was not happy. Was the king
looking at him? He knew this was too good to be true! How could
he have been so foolish to think he could be here. He
wasn’t worthy, he wasn’t good, he was now going to get what he deserved -
thrown out and killed.
But
no. The king spoke to a person at the next table, not
him. It was Simeon. Jacob had worked with him a couple times. He had actually
just spoken with him a few moments ago, when he asked Simeon why he was still
wearing his work clothes and hadn’t washed, and told him that he stank. Simeon
had replied: Aren’t I good enough for the king just as I am? Does he think
he’s better than me? I’m not going to play his little washing and dress up
game. Jacob didn’t get it.
Friend, how did you get
in here without a wedding garment? the
king said. Silence. Simeon, give him an answer! Say
something! What are you doing? But Simeon just kept eating and drinking.
Well, the king was furious. Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the
outer darkness. And before Jacob could blink, Simeon was gone. And
another came and took his place. And the king’s joy returned. Eat, my friends!
Drink! Dance! Rejoice! Rejoice for my son!
Friends.
Jacob, stone cutter: friend of the king. This had been a strange - but
wonderful! - day indeed.
And
a day that you, too, will enjoy. Not because you’re
worthy, but because God has sent His servants to call you to His feast. And
even though your clothes are filthy with sin and you reek of death, you have
been washed clean from your sin and death in Holy Baptism and clothed with
Christ. And so there’s a place for you. The King of all creation wants you
there. To rejoice with Him. His joy cannot be stopped.
And to have you there gives Him great joy.
And
not just you. The people you work with, that person you passed by
the other day and didn’t even notice; the guy sleeping on the park bench, the
girl walking the streets, the gang member, the guy in prison; blue collar,
white collar, or no collar; stone cutter, business man, or executive. Doesn’t matter. Come and be washed, be clothed with Christ,
and rejoice in the feast of the King. The feast we get a foretaste of
here, as we receive the Body and Blood of Christ. But the feast we will enjoy
forever when we not just die, but when we die and rise with Christ - the
Son of God who came and died and rose for us, to give
us life, to open the Kingdom of heaven, the King’s feast, to all who believe.
To all washed by Him and clothed with Him.
It is sad, though, that
some will not come. He sent servant after servant, prophet after prophet,
apostles, pastors, martyrs, friends. But work or sleep or golf - or what else? - seems more
important . . . maybe even to us, sometimes. And some think they are
good enough just as they are, like Simeon. That our own good works and goodness
should be enough for God. That they don’t need His washing or clothing . . . maybe
even us, sometimes. When we look at ourselves or
compare ourselves to others. But it is not so. It’s just that we’re so used to
seeing sin that we don’t realize how bad it is, how far we have fallen. And we
smell death so much that we don’t realize how bad we smell either. And this sin
and death - that we have both inherited and that we have added thereto -
disqualify us and make us unworthy. As we are.
On our own.
But like Jacob, we are
not on our own. The King wants you there. So much so, in fact, that the One who told this parable is the One who makes it possible
for you. Jesus provides the washing you need and the clothes you need. Or as
the prophet Isaiah put it today: he has clothed me with the garments of
salvation; he has covered me
with the robe of righteousness.
Your filthy rags have been taken away. The stench of death has been overcome.
And in their place you have been given righteousness and life. To feast at the
King’s feast! The feast which has no end.
So while in this world
and life it may not be possible to do as Paul said today, in the reading from
Philippians: to rejoice in the Lord, always, we will one day. For
the day of the feast is coming. That day of joy and only pure
joy. For the King must share His feast and His joy.
Until then, we do our
stone cutting, or whatever your vocations are, wherever God has put you and
given you to do. We might even drop stones onto our toes sometimes! And so we
come limping to this feast and look forward to the next. We come limping to
this feast and know that whatever in this world has hurt us or seems so
important to us - work, play, grudges, problems, anxieties, fears, whatever -
they really don’t matter. You are washed, you are cleansed, you are robed, and
you are fed. The King has taken care of everything. What you do now, here in
this life matters and is important - for others. What the King
does here matters and is important - for you.
So hear His Word, the
message of His feast that He has sent. And come. Rejoice in His forgiveness.
Marvel at His mercy. And feast on His love. All for you.
In the Name of the Father, and of the (+)
Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Now the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through faith in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.