Scripture Scribbles: October 11, 2026
the Gospel
Matthew 22:1-14
Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and 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 he 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.
The king 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."
the scribble
The king said to him, 'My friend, how is it
that you came in here without a wedding garment?'
The parable of the wedding feast is a challenging reminder that we are constantly being invited into the life of the chosen and beloved and also that we have to respond.
I often think of this lenten prayer from Henri Nouwen:
“The choice for your way has to be made every moment of my life. I have to choose thoughts that are your thoughts, words that are your words, and actions that are your actions. There are not times or places without choices.”
God invites us to the great feast he makes for us (see the first reading excerpt below and our psalm for today for descriptions of its bounty and beauty)
On this mountain the LORD of hosts
will provide for all peoples
a feast of rich food and choice wines,
juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.
On this mountain he will destroy
the veil that veils all peoples,
the web that is woven over all nations;
he will destroy death forever.
The Lord GOD will wipe away
the tears from every face;
God comes to summon us to this bounty of food, wine and joy right where we are. He offers us the blood of his son to make us ready to receive it.
But we must respond by choosing to live this life of the beloved.
In moments and seasons of abundance and delight and in moments and seasons of poverty and need (see the second reading), we must choose him “in every circumstance and in all things.” (Second reading, Ephesians 4:12)
When we choose his thoughts, words and actions in the small and big moments of our lives, we open ourselves to be strengthened, comforted and clothed in his immeasurable grace and glorious riches. (Second reading, Ephesians 4:19).
This spring, I had a profound experience of what the psalmist describes in Psalm 23. Today’s scriptures together remind me of what I learned in that experience: what God is preparing is so much greater than I could ever imagine from my little perspective.
The LORD is my shepherd;
there is nothing I lack.
In green pastures he makes me lie down;
to still waters he leads me;
he restores my soul.
He guides me along right paths
for the sake of his name.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff comfort me.
You set a table before me
in front of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me
all the days of my life;
I will dwell in the house of the LORD
for endless days.
Let us be open to his invitation and choose him in every moment of our lives.
Today’s devotion was written by Lucia Parker DeMarco
