Fix your eyes upon your Bridegroom, who gave His life for you; fix your eyes upon His feast, which you receive here! All things are ready: mercy and grace, forgiveness, life, and salvation; they all arehere! Receive them with joy and thankfulness and praise. Do not take them for granted or simply go through the motions, lest you hear the King say to you, “How is it that you are here without a wedding garment?” Woe to you if you come to think that what you hear and receive in this place is of little importance; woe to you if you believe that you can live without them. Woe to you if your eyes and heart become fixed upon the things of this world, holding them as more important than the wedding feast for and of Christ Jesus, the King’s Son. Now, you reside in His kingdom of grace, where sinful, fallen men are invited to hear the saving Word, repent, and be converted; now is the time when the unworthy are made honored guests of the King. Now, today, once again, cling fast to the garment He has richly provided you—the righteousness of Christ that covers all your sins and secures you from the torment of the outer darkness.
Readings:
Old Testament: Isaiah 55:1-9
Epistle: Ephesians 5:15-21
Holy Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14
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