Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Scripture Readings

Wedding and wedding planning are often a big deal. Trying to figure out how many people to include on the guest list, what you will serve, and even the attire for the event are often topics for much discussion.  In today’s gospel reading, Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a royal wedding feast. This wedding feast is like no other, and we are called to be a part of the celebration.

In the scripture reading from Matthew, Jesus tells the chief priests and elders that the Kingdom of heaven is like a wedding feast that a king gives for his son. Many of the invited guests either refuse to come, ignore the invitation, or even mistreat the messenger announcing the invitation to come. A second round of invitations goes out to the masses, where people from various places and stations in life are included in the guest list. The room is finally filled with people to celebrate this son’s special day, but one individual is not appropriately dressed for the occasion, and therefore is removed from the celebration.

Hearing this parable in our current age makes it difficult to completely understand what lessons are being shared.  If there was a royal wedding, (and we have witnessed these spectacles even in our age), everyone invited should be thrilled to attend. The extravagant food, luxurious attire, pomp and circumstance would be a reason to feel a great privilege that we were included in that gathering. 

And yet, each of us has been invited to be a part of the greatest wedding feast- the Kingdom of heaven. Jesus invites us to be a part of His kingdom- one of great love, peace, hope, mercy and communion with God.  Although we have all received the invitation to join the gathering, many distractions can often impact our willingness or ability to attend.  At times, our pride can interfere when we believe that we can do it alone and do not need God in our lives. Sometimes, the pull of material possessions or power leads us away from the invitation and we walk away to take care of business. Finally, we may decide to attend, but we enter the gathering not dressed for the occasion, maybe being wrapped up in hatred, greed or pride.

Today, as we read this parable, consider how each of us is being called, and consider the various parts of our lives that may be interfering with our ability to say “yes” to God’s invitation and join the celebration.  On this feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin May, let us pray that our Queen Mother might intercede on our behalf, so we can join the wedding feast that never ends.

—Marylynn Herchline