There are dress codes in restaurants, in courts, in celebrity balls, in interviews, in weddings. But there are not any enforeable dress codes in churches today - except in one church: "St. Peter's in Rome." You can hear the Swiss Guard shout: "Alt!" - if anyone tries to enter St. Peter's in shorts - even if a person was coming to just visit while no liturgical function is going on. But today in America, you could see a man or woman in shorts at Mass near the Holy of Holies - near the table of the Lord. Some women wear tank tops and low-cut tops. They wear geans two sizes too small for them. They wear tops that show not only cleavage but a good view of breasts from the sides. Breasts are good and created by God; but they can be distracting to those who are praying or celebrating Mass. In Rome, these women would not get pass the vestibule or possibly the steps going up to the chruch.
In one parable of Jesus, He talks about a dress code for a wedding. In Matthew 22: 1-14, Jesus says: "But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen."
This punishment is pretty severe for messing up on a dress code. In fact, Jesus had used that punishment before when a stuart buried his talent and handed it back to the owner. But this parable must have a deeper meaning for the Jewish hearers of his story. What was Jesus saying specifically to them: They are the chosen people - all invited to the "Marriage Feast of the Lamb" in heaven. Some never came at all but made excuses of buying a new land or new team of oxen or were newly married; therefore, they could not come. But the king wants his wedding feast to be full; so he orders his attendants to invite everyone; near and far. The king intially calls this robeless guest as "Friend". God wants all of us to be "friends with God." But this guest did not really accept that invitation [says Fr. Saji at Mass this morning]. We have to understand that in those days, if you did not have a wedding garment, it would be supplied to you when you arrived. So, there is no excuse for coming into the wedding without one. But it seems this guest came in by the back door. The bride wears pure white linen - sign of her purity and righteous deeds. All wedding garments worn by guests signify their rieghteous deed and state of Sanctifying Grace. This guest came in with neither. Why did not the king then order the tendants to get this guest a wedding garment right then and there instead of throwing him out into the darkness "where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth"? This guest had come to this wedding having refused the garment of righteous and grace. His sin was refusal to be forgiven and reconciled to God and to perform righteous deed in Faith. The Pharisees and Scribes and Temple leaders - all - have been invited to the "marriage feast of the Lamb" but they were not righteous. Thus the saying: "Many are called; but few are chosen" fits them perfectly: They had been chosen as the people of God; and they responded to this invitation by trying to keep the law; but all was hypocritical because they were "whitened sepulchers full of dead men's bones" not full of "righteousness" and grace. Jesus even said about them: "They praise me with their lips; but there hearts are far from me." In the end, Jesus will tell many: "I do not know you. I was hungry and you gave me no food. I was thirsty and you gave me no drink. I was sick and in prison and you did not come to visit me." They will answer: "When Lord....did we not minister to your needs?" He will answer: "As long as you did not do it for the least of my brethern, you did not do it to me." Then he will say: "Depart from me you evil doers...into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his followers." But what real evil did these souls do that would merit everlasting punishment in hell? The sin of omission to love others who really were Himself. These today are those starving children in Africa and Sudan and Haiti and even here in Appalacia. There was an African-American boy in the inner City of Detriot about 8 years old who never had seen an orange. I saw a woman digging out of the ash cans of the restaurant of Carl's Chop House. She was gathering many bones of steaks that still had enough meet on them to make a meat soup for his kids. I gave her all the money I had. She smiled a big - toothless - but radiant smile!
Dearest Lord, please give us now while we live a wedding garment of purity, Grace, and righteous deeds so that you will be pleased with us when you see us at Your Wedding Feast of the Lamb in heaven. Amen in Your Name, Lord, Amen.
Love, Pio
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