Textual Tuesday
Rev. Heidi Heath

Textual Tuesday: Matthew 22:1-14

Preaching and sharing the Bible unites all of our churches, locally and beyond. Here are a few gatherings for the upcoming Sunday Bible readings as you study the Scriptures. Does this spark reflections, ideas or do you have something to share? Write a comment below!

See the Revised Common Lectionary readings for Sunday, October 15, 2017. The site also includes hymn suggestions, prayers and more.

  • For a long time I didn’t go to church, but wanted to. I found going into a church intimidating as I didn’t know who would be on the inside. Would they accept me? Would they see through me? I longed for someone to invite me. Eventually I gave up waiting and gathered my courage to enter the doors alone–and it changed everything for me. Who do we think is waiting for the invitation to faith? Who might need your invitation for the courage to come in? How is God prompting you to offer that invitation?
  • What are the implications of accepting a wedding invitation today? What does that mean about accepting God’s invitation now?
  • Many parts of the New Testament compare we (the church) to a bride and Jesus to a groom. That is, we are not the invited guests. If that’s the case, then how does our interpretation of the parable change?
  • “[A]ll of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:27 NIV). Baptism is connected to the invitation in the parable. To paraphrase one priest, to be Christian is not to wear robes and hate others, but rather “to wear Christ and love everyone.”
  • The Party, painting by James B. Janknegt, 30×40 inches, oil on canvas.
  • It is divine Wisdom who makes the invitation to enjoy the feast: Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars. She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her servants, and she calls from the highest point of the city, “Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says, “Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed” (Proverbs 9:1-5 NIV).
  • In J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the invitation to Hogwarts School is prodigal and indestructible: