Ready to Feast

Reflection 58 from Matters of the Heart, a series of Orthodox reflections on faith and life.

Verse:  “Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?” – Matthew 22:12

See Also

Mark 1:15

A great banquet, the Lord describes, is arranged by a certain King for His beloved Son. And all, are invited to attend. But upon the King’s return to greet His guests, He finds a man seated at the banquet without a wedding garment. This angered the Great King who ordered that the man be bound and cast out.

This Great King is none other than God the Father, who prepared a wedding banquet for His Son Jesus to His spouse the Church. And all, we are told, are invited to feast. But those whom God finds seated at the banquet ungowned, that is to say unprepared for the feast, He will cast out of His sight and into the outer darkness. For how can one sit in the presence of Divine Royalty with an unclean garment, tarnished by the guilt of sin? Let us therefore prepare ourselves for the great feast in order that we may attain God’s favour and find place in His dwelling as one of His honoured guests.

Prayer

Dear Lord, cleanse and purify me in order that I may be counted as one of the honoured guests in Your Heavenly banquet.

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