First Friday in Advent

Amos 5:1-17; Jude 1-16; Matthew 22:1-14

Another scary parable, paired with an epistle that condemns “those others.”  Give me Amos.  His condemnation is direct, aimed at his listeners.  They oppress, they steal, they ignore God’s commands.  Amos calls them to “seek good and not evil, that you may live.”  Amen to that!

So often, though, we get messages that tell us that following God is a bummer.  It’s the right thing to do, but it won’t be any fun.  And surely the people Amos is aiming at think that.  If they do turn, it will be out of fear rather than hope or love.  And fear can only turn us so far. 

But the life that God calls us to is not a dour life. It’s the ultimate party.  In the Gospel passage we hear about people who pass up the invitation to party.  In the end, the only ones who come are the “uninvited,” the not so obvious choices, those willing to mix the good and the bad.  Just like Jesus, who eats with all the wrong people.

I imagine that when they got the invitation they didn’t have any idea how much fun they might have.  More than fun; deep, enduring joy.  They just heard another summons, another burden.  Another office Christmas party.  So they went their way, doing their oppressing and stealing (all very legal, of course).  And they missed the event of their lives.  I don’t mean they missed the big event out of all the events in their lives; I mean they missed their life, experienced as an event.  They missed the big now.

But what’s with the wedding robe?  Why throw out this poor guy, after going to all the trouble to get people in?  The explanation I like says that not wearing a wedding robe, a garment provided at the wedding, is a sign that the person doesn’t know he’s come to a party.  He may think he’s there for business, or to get ahead or to please someone else (just like many of us learned to go to church!).  He’s in the room, but he doesn’t know what he’s doing there.  All the celebration will just pass him by.  You might say he’s already in the outer darkness, even in the presence of the light.

He might very well be the one standing in the corner with Jude, judging everyone else in the room.

I’ve been invited - and so have you.  Seek good, that you may live!