GOSPEL READING
FOR
TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY
IN ORDINARY TIME

October 12, 2008

Matthew 22:1-14

Parable of the Wedding Feast

Jesus said to the chief priests and elders:

The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who made a marriage feast for his son. And he sent his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they would not come.

Again, he sent other servants, saying, “Tell those invited: Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my oxen and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.”

But they made light of it, and went off, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.

When the king heard of it, he was angry, and he sent his army, destroyed those murderers, and burnt their city.

Then he said to his servants, “The feast indeed is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Go, therefore, to the crossroads, and invite to the marriage feast whomever you shall find.”

And his servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, bad and good alike, and the marriage feast was filled with guests.

Now the king went in to see the guests, and he saw there a man not dressed in a wedding garment. And he said to him, “Friend, how didst thou come in here without a wedding garment?” But he was speechless.

Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind his hands and feet, and cast him forth into the darkness outside, where there will be weeping and the gnashing of teeth.”

For many are called, but few are chosen.