NOTES:
1] Jesus continues last week's themes (21:33-46) 2] If what happens seems exaggerated, Jesus is the master story-teller, & exaggeration is one of the tools of the trade. 3] Scholars point out how the Gospels emphasise eating together as a metaphor of God's Rule. 4] If there's no convincing explanation of the poorly dressed guest, maybe Jesus is just warning us all to be always ready, 'clothed in righteousness'?

WARMING UP:  How do we respond to invitations to functions that involve dressing up?

TREASURES OLD & NEW: Identify God at work in anything this week?

ENTERING INTO THE STORY:

1-6      If last week's allegory of the vineyard emphasizes the effort & return God  expects from us, what does this parable of a wedding celebration emphasize? Does the fact that Jesus tells both stories mean that he sees both illustrations of God's expectations as legitimate & equal? In our experience, does church tend to push one of these to the detriment of the other? If attacking & killing the messengers seems an over-reaction on the part of the invitees (cf. the vineyard lessees), what point is Jesus making by such exaggeration? Have we ever acted like these invitees towards God's messengers, invitations?

7-10     How do we respond to portrayals of God (the King) becoming angry? Is anger a quality of God we ever think much about? What of those who seem to dwell on it too much? If Jesus wants his hearers to recognize themselves as the Hebrew people who've turned down God's invitation to celebrate his Son's wedding (to humanity), how might it apply to us today? Or don't we act like that? What do we stand to lose if we do? Do we feel at least uneasy that we might miss out like the Hebrew people of old through not accepting Jesus? Or is God too much of a 'softy' to treat us like that? How do we feel about 'bad' people & 'outsiders' being invited to God's party to make up the numbers? Are we comfortable with the thought that there'll be more than just us in 'heaven'?

11-14   In terms of N. 4 above, are we clothed(now!) as God wants us to be? Are we sure? What other kind of 'clothing' might God want us to be 'wearing'? Are we? Do we ever imagine ourself 'speechless' in God's presence? Now, or 'then'?

Is there any state between light & darkness as God sees it? How much time do we spend trying to live in 'shades of grey'? What kinds of things can bind us hand & foot & bring about our downfall? Do we visit our dentist regularly to make sure we'll have enough teeth left to grind?

What do we need to do to make sure we're among those both called & chosen? What does being 'called' involve? Being 'chosen'? Who decides this? What decides it?