God’s Wedding Banquet (9-2-2018)

   When a young couple is engaged to be married, everyone is excited for them. They begin the preparations for their special day including the mailing of the wedding invitations. If we know the couple, we are pleased to receive an invitation and we often respond enthusiastically yes! We look forward to sharing in the joy of the ceremony and the reception. We look forward to the company of the other invited guests and the delicious food. And if the wedding is part of a famous or wealthy family, we might be even more eager to go.

   So, we can relate to the parable of the wedding banquet in today’s Gospel, the 14^th Sunday of Matthew (22:1-14). 2,000 years ago, they did not have a mail system, so slaves and servants were sent out to deliver the invitations from the king for his son’s wedding (v.2-3). However, it says that the guests “would not come” (v.3). What? That does not make sense. Who refuses a wedding invite, from a king no less? We hear that the king sent out other slaves to the invited guests with an emphatic “come to the wedding banquet!” (v.4). Ok, “I guess he really wants us there, let’s go.” But we hear that not only did the invitees not come, they made light of the invitation (v.5). “Ah, the king thinks he’s important, but it’s no big deal. Besides I’ve got a lot of stuff to do around the house. I think I even need to finish up some work before Monday rolls around.” What? Who doesn’t go to a wedding ceremony and banquet because of house chores and work stuff? It even says that some invited guests mistreated and killed those who brought the invites. What, who does that?

   To help makes sense of this parable we must be mindful of a few things. First of all, Jesus starts the parable by saying, “the kingdom of heaven is like” (v.2). Jesus did not start by saying, “Let me tell you a story about…” Second, remembering the context is the kingdom of heaven, we can begin to understand the symbolism of the parable. The king is God the Father; his son is Jesus Christ. The servants or slaves are the Prophets and the invited guests are God’s chosen people--the Israelites. The wedding is between Jesus the Messiah and the Jews. The guests who do not come are the Israelites who forsook God and turned their backs to Him. Some, as we know, even killed the prophets of God much like the tenants of the vineyard in last Sunday’s gospel (13^th of Mt.21:33-42; the parable told right before today’s parable). The king responded by sending his troops to destroy the murderers and their city (v.7). This brings to mind the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah, but some say it refers to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD.

   Knowing the symbolism of Jesus’ Parable we can better apply to ourselves because the marriage is now between Christ and us! In today’s Epistle reading (14^th Sunday – 2Corinthians 1:21 – 2:4), the Apostle Paul writes, “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God” (v.21). We were ‘established’ when we were baptized into Christ and we were ‘anointed’ when we were chrismated with the Holy Spirit. St. Paul goes on to say that God, “also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee” (v.22). Our ‘guarantee’ (Greek ‘arravona’) is our eternal invitation to the marriage feast to unite with Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

   The Greek word for Church is ‘ekklesia’ and that means “those who are called/invited.” Thus, we Christians are called to be the bride for the bridegroom Christ and we are invited to the wedding banquet of the Divine Liturgy. Thus, every Sunday we are invited to the Eucharistic banquet to celebrate our mystical union with our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ. St. Gregory the Great says the wedding banquet in Matthew represents the Church of the present time and the same Parable in Luke represents the final and eternal banquet in heaven. But as many of us know, some do not accept the invitation. Some make light of it. “It’s no big deal, there will be another banquet next Sunday.” Some make excuses about obligations with family, work or friends. Some sleep, some mow lawns, some go to the office (whether at work or home), some go to a restaurant, some have birthday parties, play dates, wedding showers, etc. all right at the same time as the Divine Liturgy.

   Now some might say, “Alright, I know, I have ignored the invite or made excuses, but I have never mistreated or killed anyone.” Well, who are today’s servant/slaves who send out the invites to the wedding banquet? That would be the bishops and priests and others who announce the Divine Liturgy and invite the faithful to attend, “Come to the wedding banquet!” (v.4). Some have literally been killed, like the 15 priests in Ethiopia three weeks ago. But most others are virtually murdered with the weapons of slander, gossip and complaining. “I’m not going to liturgy anymore because of the priest. He’s this type of person. I don’t like the way he does this or that.” Do we even think how our words affect our own soul and influence others negatively? This kind of talk goes on even around children and teenagers, and it taints their view of the clergy, the Church and the liturgy. But this does more damage to us than to the priest or the bishop or any other leader in the Church who is just delivering the invite. Think about it.

   All of us who are here today have accepted God’s invitation to the wedding banquet. It’s important to remember that we should not come to liturgy and receive the Eucharist because we think we’re special. However, in the parable the king said, “the wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy” (v.8). Some might think he’s referring to those who refused the invite, but he also told the servants, “invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet” (v.9). They did that and “they found both good and bad” (v10). In other words, both righteous and sinners came as guests to fill the wedding hall. More than likely, we fall into the category of sinners but nevertheless we are here, the best place for anyone to be. And if we are sinners then we have no place to judge the other sinners who are here. Instead we must exercise patience and forgiveness. A billboard outside a church said, “Quit griping about your church. If it was perfect you couldn't belong.

   Since the king was so insistent that anyone and everyone be invited to the wedding banquet, why does he have the man with no wedding garment/robe (v.11, Greek ‘endyma’) to be bound and cast into the outer darkness where men weep and gnash their teeth (v.13)? Shouldn’t the king just be happy he came? It reminds me of the Prayer before Holy Communion that says, “if I dare to enter into the bridal chamber, my clothing will accuse me since it is not a wedding garment.” The wedding robe speaks not just to our new white baptismal garments but also to the renewed sanctified human nature we receive from Christ and the Spirit. The robe not only speaks to the fact that we should dress our best when coming to liturgy on Sunday but also to attitude in our mind, the feelings in our heart and the condition of our soul. Do we put on Christ when we come to church or do we put on a passion or even a demon? Baptism is not a guarantee of salvation, neither is the Divine Liturgy or the Eucharist a guarantee of eternal life. Salvation is a gift that must be accepted and lived each and every day. Fr. Thomas Hopko said that many people get worse, rather than better, when they attend Divine Liturgy and the other activities of the church. Why? Because they don’t want to change, they don’t want to repent.

   As we close today, we remember Jesus’ final words in today’s passage, “For many are called but few are chosen” (v.14). All of us are called to the wedding banquet every Sunday and every weekday Liturgy. St. Gregory the Great says that the good and the bad will always be together in this earthly life. In the future and Final Judgment, the good are chosen to live with God eternally and the bad will be eternally separated from their Creator, the Source of Life. The only way we can become His chosen people, is to 1) accept the invitation, 2) attend the banquet, and 3) come prepared with an appropriate wedding garment. Amen!

ST. GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

 Rev. Fr. Richard Demetrius Andrews, Presbyter

1111 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105, (651) 222-6220, www.stgeorgegoc.org

September 9, 2018                                                                               SUNDAY BEFORE HOLY CROSS

TODAY’S EVENTS: Philoptochos meeting, 12:00pm.

Epistle Reader: Stephen Kanavati                                  Prosfora: anonymous

Fellowship: Diane Anastos & Katherine Cabieses             Head Greeters: Joe Weiser & Jimmy Theros

Wednesday 09-12     Listening Tour Event with Metropolitan Nathanael                                                     6:00PM

Thursday     09-13     VESPERS – ELEVATION OF HOLY CROSS                                                                 6:00PM

Friday          09-14     ORTHROS (8:00am) &DIVINE LITURGY – ELEVATION OF HOLY CROSS                    9:00AM

Saturday      09-15     Prison Ministry reunion breakfast                                                                          10:00AM

Sunday         09-16     ORTHROS (8:15am) &DIVINE LITURGY- SUNDAY AFTER HOLY CROSS                    9:30AM

                                    Sunday School begins                                                                                          11:00AM

                                    Church Picnic at Hidden Falls Park                                                                         12:00PM

                                    LOMCP Gala Fundraiser in Stillwater                                                                        4:00PM

Tuesday       09-18     Parish Council meeting                                                                                            6:30PM

                                   Catechism Class: God-Holy Trinity with Dcn. Jason Ketz                                          7:00PM

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

St. Paul Classic Parking Ban: no parking today on north side of Summit Ave until 1:00pm due to the Bike Tour. Cars parked in posted no parking zones will be tagged and towed.

Metropolitan Nathanael in Twin Cities: this Wednesday September 12^th as part of his listening tour throughout the Metropolis of Chicago. Our parish will host. 6pm Meet and Greet, 7-9pm Talk with Questions and Answers. Please rsvp online https://midwesttour.squarespace.com. Contact office to help host.

Quick Clean Today: Restoration work caused a lot of dust to settle inside sanctuary. Please help to clean the flat surfaces and icons today after liturgy. We have plenty of rags and buckets using warm water only, no soap.

Think About It: Happiness is a pure heart, for such a heart becomes the throne of God.       St. Nectarios of Aegina (+1920)

Carpets Cleaned! Throughout the building. Please help us keep it clean. No food and beverages in these areas.

Exterior Restoration- began on August 24 and will continue for about three weeks. Brick, block and tuckpointing will be repaired or replaced as needed. This project will cost $113,000. All parish council members and many others have already pledged financial support. Please join us in this important work. Thank you!

MCP Fundraising Gala: next Sunday, September 16, 4-7pm on the terrace of the Stillwater Public Library, 224 3^rd Street N, Stillwater. Tickets for the Lyn Olson Medical Crisis Program Annual Fundraising Gala are on sale for $30 in the bookstore on Sundays, in church office on weekdays or at www.lomcp.com.

Annual Church Picnic: will be held next Sunday, September 16 at Hidden Falls Park, off of Mississippi River Blvd in St. Paul (https://www.stpaul.gov/facilities/hidden-falls-regional-park), following liturgy.

Intro to Orthodoxy: a 12-week class on the basics of Eastern Orthodox Christianity began on September 4 and will be held Tuesday evenings 7-9pm beginning Tuesday, September 4^th. The class is open to everyone, especially inquirers and those interested in converting to Orthodoxy. Classes are held at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Saint Paul, MN. See insert for details; register online atwww.meocca.org.

Youth: Sunday School begins next Sunday, September 16^th; registration is open. Please fill out a registration form or go to our website to register online. We are also looking for adults to assist with youth activities. If you are interested, please contact Nathaniel Kostick.

Wisdom from the Church Fathers: We are not asked merely to call ourselves Christians; we are asked to be Christians through our deeds.                                                         St. Ignatius of Antioch (+108)

Family Camp: October 12-14. Are your kids spending too much time on technology?  Are you not far behind them?  Technology is here to stay.  Could you use some help?  Join us this year at Camp Courage near Annandale, MN.  Rev. Dr. Dcn. Perry Hamalis, professor of Religion at North Central College in Illinois, will lead us in discussion on this very current topic: “Screens, Technology, and the Passions: Orthodox Christian Insights for Families.”  Info and registration www.stmaryscamp.com .

John Pitsavas Memorial Scholarship: eligible high school seniors and college students are invited to apply for the 2018-2019 academic year by submitting an essay discussing the topic: “All Things are Possible to the One Who Believes in Christ (Mark 9:23); discuss how this verse relates to your own life as an Orthodox Christian student.” Deadline is September 15, 2018. Applications and guidelines available in the social hall or office.

Church Fathers Speak: Being humans, we sin every day, but Saint Paul consoles us by saying ‘renew yourselves’ from day to day. This is what we do with houses. We are constantly repairing them as they break down. You should do the same thing to yourself.                                            St. John Chrysostom (+407)

Armenian Festival: at St. Sahag Armenian Church, 203 N.Howell, St. Paul on Saturday, September 15 from 11am-7pm. Come celebrate with traditional food, dance and crafts!

Lebanese Festival: at St. Maron Catholic Church, 602 University Ave. NE, Minneapolis this Saturday, September 15, 1-8pm and Sunday, September 16, 11am-6pm. Fun for all ages; free admission, plus food, games, live music and dance. See posting in social hall or visit www.stmaron.com for more info.

Romanian Festival: this Saturday, September 15, 12-7pm and Sunday, September 16, 12-5pm at St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Church, 854 Wodbridge St, St Paul, MN 55117, features wonderful Romanian food, dancing, live music, delicious pastries, church tours, kids activities and FUN!! www.saintmarymn.org.

Sunday Fellowship Hour: If you have not served, not served recently, or would like to serve, please call Naomi Tsantir at 612-781-6485 to schedule. You can be paired up too. "Many hands make less work for all"

Patristic Wisdom: How can there be instruction without exercise or progress without practice?      St. Ambrose of Milan (+397)

Pan-Orthodox Ladies Tea: 2:30pm, October 6, 2018 at Holy Trinity Church, Archangel Michael Hall. Vespers follow at 5pm. Contact Matuska Vera Proctor with questions at 651.324.2705 or vsproctor@gmail.com.

60^th Anniversary Celebration: Transfiguration GOC parish in Sioux Falls is celebrating their 60^th anniversary with a Grand Banquet on October 6^th, and a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Sunday, October 7^th.For more information, see posting in social hall or visit transfigurationgoc.org

Metropolis Clergy Laity: the Twin Cities has been chosen to host the next Metropolis Clergy Laity September 25-29, 2019. The St. George and St. Mary Church communities will co-host. Stay tuned for more details!

Welcome Visitors Thank you for joining with us in prayer and fellowship. The worship of the Orthodox Church is deeply rooted in and very similar to that of the early Christian Church. Unique sensory stimuli and mystery are elements that go back even to the liturgy of the Jewish temple. Everything in an Orthodox Christian church communicates the majestic presence of God the Holy Trinity with His Saints. It is literally heaven on earth. It is a sad consequence of the divisions in Christianity that we cannot extend a general invitation to receive Holy Communion. Visitors are invited to receive the blessed bread (antithoron) at the conclusion of the liturgy. We pray and work for the reconciliation and unity of all Christians. If you are interested in learning more about Orthodoxy, please contact Fr. Rick at fatherrick@stgeorgegoc.org. We are proud of our Greek heritage, but one does not have to be of Greek descent, nor speak Greek to be a Greek Orthodox Christian.

Note to Orthodox about Holy Communion: Receiving the Body and Blood of Christ is one of the most Holy experiences for a Christian in order to be granted the forgiveness of sins and everlasting life. We are never worthy to partake of Divine Nature. Yet, it is essential that we prepare ourselves for this sacred Communion by constant prayer, reading the Scriptures, regular fasting and periodic Confession. At a minimum, we should fast all morning before Communion, arrive at the beginning of Liturgy, and come for Confession at least once a year. In addition, we should not have separated ourselves from the Church through serious sin. Otherwise, please refrain from Communion to avoid “judgment…not discerning the Lord’s body” (1Cor. 11:29). Contact Fr. Rick for pastoral guidance.

Glad Tidings deadline: The 10th of each month. Glad Tidings email: gladtidings@stgeorgegoc.org  Sunday Bulletin Deadline: Wednesday Noon each week.  Email: office@stgeorgegoc.org