The familiar cheap, all-lowercase cursive modern wall decorations don’t quite capture the full spirit of the Scriptures when quoting St. Paul’s famous line: “I can do all things in him who strengthens me.” He’s speaking of his own apostolic life, of course, which was marked with far greater hardships than most beige suburban dining rooms will ever witness. His “humble circumstances” included “going hungry” and “being in need.” He tells the Philippians, “Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress” because they had sent money to support him, multiple times even, thus supporting him through his trials by their generosity. Paul promises that it will be rewarded in turn: “My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
Another purpose lies hidden in his communique. “In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need.” This declaration served as a Christianized correction to Roman Stoicism. Such a prominent philosophical framework among highly respected citizens apparently needed to be addressed. The key is not utter self-reliance, as the famed authors of that school insisted. Instead, Paul repeatedly asserts that his blessings come through the Lord, and so it is only “To our God and Father, glory forever and ever. Amen.”
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Whereas that hyper-logical ideology exalted detachment from worldly pleasures as the model of self-control, the prophet Isaiah’s eschatological vision takes the shape of a rich banquet: “a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.” Indeed, the negative emotions will be tempered, but it will be the doing of the Divine: “The Lord God will wipe away the tears from every face; the reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth.” Proper positive sentiments will be the order of the day, again due to God’s work: “Let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us.”
The Psalmist shares this same view: “Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil… Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life.” God’s gifts are bountiful, revealed by the promise of an idyllic, serene, abundant dinner party: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul… You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” People are to enjoy all this as manifestations of God’s generous love.
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The king in the Gospel parable is vexed by the Stoic apathy of some of his would-be guests, attending instead to their duties: “Some ignored the invitation and went
away, one to his farm, another to his business.” But others were violent, and the host responded quickly: “The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.” That’s quite a potentate if he can apparently marshal his army, kill off his agitators, and incinerate their homes, all while still keeping his sumptuous meal warm and ready for any crowd that he might be able to find.
Many faithful folks are confused by the king’s disturbing behavior if he is supposed to represent God. We should instead be scandalized by the various levels of human behavior towards Him, encapsulated in the assorted reactions of the different invitees: indifference, rejection, aggression, etc. Eventually, “The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests.” This signifies the proclamation of the Faith to the Gentiles, no matter their background. These still need to be attired in the grace with which they were clothed in Baptism to come to the mystical marriage celebration. Not a single person will be admitted without holiness: “He saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment… Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’” Again, it seems harsh on the ruler’s part, but he has in fact given everyone a place at his table. The consequences of refusing to accept the Lord’s open offer of salvation are on us, not on Him: “everything is ready; come to the feast.”