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Gospel Reading for August 21, 2025 – Matthew 22: 1-14
BEST SELVES
Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and the elders of the people in parables saying, “The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’ Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then the king said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ Many are invited, but few are chosen.”
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Jesus was speaking about the Israelites to whom he was sent first. They were so privileged for having been chosen to be the people from whom the Messiah would be born. But, a lot of their leaders shunned Jesus. They had their own notion of what the Messiah should be that they lost such great opportunity. Hence, the gift of salvation was given to the Gentiles (pagans) or to us who do not belong to the House of Israel. Remember in Mark 7: 24-29, a Syrophoenician woman who was considered a Gentile had so much faith in Jesus and asked him to heal her demon-possessed daughter. Although Jesus was at first hesitant, her great faith and persistence moved him to heal her daughter. Thus, Jesus’ ministry was extended beyond the Jewish people. “Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Matthew 20: 16)
But, even if Jesus’ ministry of salvation was extended to us, it does not mean that we can take it for granted. To God, no one is considered “seconds.” All of us are equally called to partake of the heavenly meal in the Kingdom of God. All of us are expected to be our BEST SELVES before God!
Lord Jesus, may our gift of faith be the greatest blessing of our lives!
