Proper 23A

Oct 2020: this time when I read it I’m struck that the good and bad are called and come. That coming probably represents those who come to church. Not all who come (even come regularly) are saved. That’s the way it is, go ahead and try to get all your parishioners saved but accept the fact that some are secret unbelievers. That part won’t change, and the “dead church” idea of the late 1970’s had merit, but I can’t buy it 100% because there were the faithful even then with little raising of hands and shouts of praise the Lord” but the faithful went through the liturgy and really meant it when they prayed for God to forgive their sins and even thoughts, the absolution. They were faithful and believing when they went up for communion. I think the faithful know that, and know or probably know that the guy sitting down from them in the pew isn’t coming along, not warming up to the true Gospel. Yet you thank God he still comes every week and pray that one day he will accept the Lord. That is the principle of wheat and tares. Do not rip them both up, let them grow together.

LCMS Lectionary Summary:

OT: Isa 25.1-9 (L 25.6-9) It’s important to read the longer version because 6-9 is read Easter Evening ABC, Easter B, and All Saints Day B. 6-9 is about “on this mountain Yahweh Sabaoth will make for all peoples a feast; 1-5 is a psalmlike section which thanks God for making many cities into heaps of ruins never to be rebuilt, and that God is a tower of refuge from the storm.

Epistle: Php 4.1-9 (L 4-13) Verse 4 begins “rejoice in the Lord and again I say rejoice.” 1-3 are greetings, which normally could be cut out, but women are included as those “who have labored side by side with me in the gospel” so important to include. Ver 12 says that Paul has learned to be content to be abased and to abound, and that is never read any other time and is gold - so definitely include.

Gospel 216: Mat 22.1-14 (same) “Many are called but few are chosen” is the final moral to the parable of the king who invited many to his feast but most who were invited “made light of it and went off” and actually killed the kings servants in the various places where he had farms and businesses. After the king destroyed those murderers and burned their city, he invited all in the thoroughfares, gathering “both bad and good” and they came and the wedding hall was filled.

Clothed in the Righteousness of Christ, We Partake of His Wedding Feast

By His cross and resurrection, the Lord has swallowed up death forever, and by His Gospel He “will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth” (Is. 25:8). Therefore, “let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation” (Is. 25:9). On the mountain of the Lord of hosts — in His Church on earth, as in the kingdom of heaven — He has made “for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine” (Is. 25:6). It is the royal “wedding feast” of the Son of God, “and everything is ready” (Matt. 22:1, 4). Thus, His servants are sent into the highways and byways to invite and gather as many as they find, “both good and bad,” to fill the wedding hall with guests (Matt. 22:8–10). In Holy Baptism, He clothes them all in the “wedding garment” of His own perfect righteousness (Matt. 22:11). Therefore, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God,” and “rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil. 4:4–6).

Summary: The Banquet of the Lord

Hymn of the Day: 510 A multitude comes from the east and the west

Liturgy:

Summary:

Isa 25.1-9

Isaiah 25:1–9 RSVCE

O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure. For thou hast made the city a heap, the fortified city a ruin; the palace of aliens is a city no more, it will never be rebuilt. Therefore strong peoples will glorify thee; cities of ruthless nations will fear thee. For thou hast been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; for the blast of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall, like heat in a dry place. Thou dost subdue the noise of the aliens; as heat by the shade of a cloud, so the song of the ruthless is stilled. On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of fat things, a feast of wine on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wine on the lees well refined. And he will destroy on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death for ever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth; for the Lord has spoken. It will be said on that day, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

Motyer 1999 says that the godless cities and nations that eventually "declare your glory" have an "I can cope" mentality where in spite of the earlier smaller judgments, still cling to the idea that they can make it without God.

Psa 23

Psalm 23 RSVCE

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Tov and Chesed are the two things "hunting down" those whose shepherd is Yahweh.

Php 4.1-9

Philippians 4:1–9 RSVCE

Therefore, my brethren, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. I entreat Eu-odia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. And I ask you also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.

Life in the church/Church doesn't mean always smooth sailing, the early Church was not perfect, the Euodia and Syntyche disagreement is a case in point. Paul still highlights and emphasizes the good, not the bad, in talking about their hard work in working hard with him in telling others the euangelion.

Mat 22.1-14

Matthew 22:1–14 RSVCE

And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a marriage feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast; but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, Behold, I have made ready my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves are killed, and everything is ready; come to the marriage feast.’ But they made light of it and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the thoroughfares, and invite to the marriage feast as many as you find.’ And those servants went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment; and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Here the messengers sent are attacked, some are killed but it isn't regarding the vineyard but the banquet. This is the easier to agree to, it is a real head-scratcher that people would even refuse to come. Such is the Gospel, it is truly good news, "all you do" is invite Jesus into your heart, to accept his love, to open that door, but even then people refuse him.