MANY ARE CALLED, FEW ARE “CHOSEN”?

“The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come… For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Mt 22: 2-3, 14)

Those initially invited to the king’s wedding-feast did not want to come. Then, the king invites everyone and anyone, and one of those who showed up did not bother to dress appropriately, so the king has him kicked out by the bouncers. Our Lord ends this parable with the perplexing line, “For many are called, but few are chosen,” which causes many of us to scratch our heads. Why would God “call” us, but not “choose” us?

The thing is, God is the One who does the *calling* or inviting, to the wedding-feast of His Son, but God is not the One making the choice, to show up or not, or how to show up, if we choose to do so. *We* are given the dignifying freedom to do the *choosing*, as to whether or not we respond to God’s call, and how we respond to it. Few end up “chosen,” because few “choose” both to suit up and show up to God’s kind of banquet. In some cases, we may be antagonistic to God’s call/invitation, or indifferent, or just interested in coming along for the party and the food, but not in the appropriate *change of clothing*. Changing into the “wedding garment” signifies embracing a Christian change in our mindset and behavior, as signified by our white baptismal garment, which means “putting on Christ” and living in His Spirit.

Does this mean God demands that we be perfect, and otherwise He cannot tolerate us in His midst? No. What God asks of us is that we receive the “garment” of His Son, by Whose perfection, protection and care we might live and be nourished in the abundant grace that is on offer at His banquet, if we choose to do so. Let us be chosen today, dear friends, and choose God’s company, because we can.