Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Thursday 23 August 2018
Wedding robe ! What is the meaning of a wedding robe that Jesus is talking about ? If we look at contemporaries of Jesus , we can see that they are filled with anxieties, little faith, careerism , greed and all sorts of human weaknesses just like we are .Lets think here of the apostles either John and James and the way that with their mother they were lobbying for better places in front of Jesus, the disciples of Emmaus who disheartened , sinking into themselves leave Jerusalem behind , giving up their dreams . But we can also think about Saul helping in the execution of Saint Stephen as well , and the rest of the characters of the Holy Scripture. Visibly they are not in wedding robes ! The sacrament of life , the wedding robe , their day only comes after their meeting with Jesus ! Zaccheaus probably does not have returned threefold of what he had taken from the people if he would not have met Jesus . The Gerasene Demoniac would not have calmed down, got dressed if he would not have met Jesus . Yes my brethren we cannot put on our wedding robes on by our own efforts , only a personal meeting with Jesus is capable to sanctify us , dress us into the wedding robes . That is why Jesus is saying :” I am the Way, the Truth and the Life !” This is why we have to shout with the blind beggar of Jericho : “Jesus , son of David , have mercy on us !”
Our personal meeting with our Redeemer wipes away our sins , sanctifies us dresses us into the wedding robe ! Where should I look for my Redeemer ? "20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Book of Revelation 3:20 If you want to meet with Christ , if you want to shine in your wedding robe , then open your whole self to Jesus Christ knocking at the door of our heart and He’ll step into your life . Together with Saint Teresa of Avila offer the key to your interior castle , so that your Redeeming Christ will discard everything from there that is sinful, bad, superfluous and so that according to His taste He may decorate you with virtues, good deeds !
With love,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Picture : One of our grown up daughters graduating in Theology in Kolozsvár in a festive outfit.
Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, “Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.” But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, maltreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, “The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.” Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.
‘But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, “Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?” And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen.’
Matthew 22:1-14
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Thursday 23 August 2018