TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Sunday October 11, 2026 11 AM The Wedding Banquet Rev. Dr. Chris Ponnuraj, Preaching Sunday Worship Bulletin Mr. John Strybos, Music Director Choir: Eliza Bonet, Lauren deLucia, Lauren Mitchell, Susie Reisinger |
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October 16, 2026 Pot Luck dinner at 6 PM Movie at 7 PM All are welcome, admission is free.
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The Wedding Banquet
Short Sermon
Rev. Dr. Chris Ponnuraj, Preaching
The Gospel passage for this Sunday St. Matthews 22: 1-14, Jesus Christ speaks of another parable. This parable provides us a good window through which to view the events of Jesus’s time and to our time. There is more to this story. The parables are not just cute little stories that illustrate a spiritual lesson. Sometimes that is the case. But other times, Jesus’ parables are more like riddles. They raise more questions than they answer. It sheds some important light for anyone still trying to figure out how to understand Jesus. The punch line in this parable is what Jesus says, “For many are invited but few are chosen.”
Since we are going to meditate on wedding invitation it reminds me of in our Asian Indian weddings, the invitation usually comes from the head of the family, but in our wedding invitation 47 years ago, Vatsala and myself invited like: “We solicit the presence of your company with family and friends to grace the occasion of our wedding on...” This means that, 47 years ago, the invited person could bring any number of people to the wedding without RSVP. But today it is very different. If there are four people in a family, only two are invited, that too they have to RSVP to confirm their attendance.
Since we are going to meditate on wedding invitation it reminds me of in our Asian Indian weddings, the invitation usually comes from the head of the family, but in our wedding invitation 47 years ago, Vatsala and myself invited like: “We solicit the presence of your company with family and friends to grace the occasion of our wedding on...” This means that, 47 years ago, the invited person could bring any number of people to the wedding without RSVP. But today it is very different. If there are four people in a family, only two are invited, that too they have to RSVP to confirm their attendance.
The story that Jesus speaks as a wedding banquet invitation, divides into three acts. In the first act, the invitation is "offered". In the second, the invitation is "rejected". In the third act that we see the invitation is "neglected"! The First one the invitation is offered. The ancient wedding customs were much different than the modern version. But they had one thing in common. A wedding was a big, festive event. The concluding wedding feast could last for days. Friends and family came from far and near. The bridegroom was the king’s son. To be invited was a very big deal. People might boast about being there at the wedding for years.
Jesus says, “this is what the kingdom of heaven is like.” God’s planning a party and you’re invited. You got to understand that? God has been inviting us all our life. He began the first time your grandmother told you a Bible story or your parents took you to go to the church. Even if that never happened, the invitation was extended when friends or relatives invited you to Sunday School or a neighbor asked you to go to a special church event. God was extending an invitation to you in one way or the other.
Everywhere and every time, you’ve heard a Christian song on the radio or Bible preacher on television, God has been knocking on the door and tugging at your heart. Every time your conscience heated up or you felt an inner yearning for something more from life, God was calling you to the best time of your life. God has spread everything on the table. And you have been invited! Even if you didn’t know it before, you do know now!
The second is that the invitation is offered but rejected. In ancient times, two invitations would be sent. The first would go out well in advance, maybe months ahead of time. Messengers would hand deliver this invitation as information. “The king’s son is getting married next fall. The banquet will be right after the harvest. He wants you there.” The potential guests would acknowledge the invitation and declare their intention to come. Then when the time arrives for the festivities, a second invitation will arrive with the details like “Be there next Friday by sun set.”
Here the story in the parable turns ugly. Some of the king’s guests ignore the message and go about business as usual. They considered their business more important than the king’s. Others respond with anger and violence. The potential guests rejected more than an invitation to a feast. They rejected the king himself. Do you see the picture? This is the way God deals with us. Both the transformed life that Christ creates and the heaven that follows are by invitation only. But no one is forced. Those who had rejected the invitation, the Lord will regret their choice. But it was theirs! Are you rejecting the invitation or neglecting the invitation?
Jesus says, “this is what the kingdom of heaven is like.” God’s planning a party and you’re invited. You got to understand that? God has been inviting us all our life. He began the first time your grandmother told you a Bible story or your parents took you to go to the church. Even if that never happened, the invitation was extended when friends or relatives invited you to Sunday School or a neighbor asked you to go to a special church event. God was extending an invitation to you in one way or the other.
Everywhere and every time, you’ve heard a Christian song on the radio or Bible preacher on television, God has been knocking on the door and tugging at your heart. Every time your conscience heated up or you felt an inner yearning for something more from life, God was calling you to the best time of your life. God has spread everything on the table. And you have been invited! Even if you didn’t know it before, you do know now!
The second is that the invitation is offered but rejected. In ancient times, two invitations would be sent. The first would go out well in advance, maybe months ahead of time. Messengers would hand deliver this invitation as information. “The king’s son is getting married next fall. The banquet will be right after the harvest. He wants you there.” The potential guests would acknowledge the invitation and declare their intention to come. Then when the time arrives for the festivities, a second invitation will arrive with the details like “Be there next Friday by sun set.”
Here the story in the parable turns ugly. Some of the king’s guests ignore the message and go about business as usual. They considered their business more important than the king’s. Others respond with anger and violence. The potential guests rejected more than an invitation to a feast. They rejected the king himself. Do you see the picture? This is the way God deals with us. Both the transformed life that Christ creates and the heaven that follows are by invitation only. But no one is forced. Those who had rejected the invitation, the Lord will regret their choice. But it was theirs! Are you rejecting the invitation or neglecting the invitation?
If you would like to learn more,
please join us in our
worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
~ All Year Long ~
Ongoing Food Collection
The Board of World Service collects
food donations for the
Yonkers Emergency Food Pantry,
which distributes them to families in Yonkers.
Non-perishable food can be brought to the church
any Sunday and left in the large basket
in the back of the Sanctuary.
Monetary donations are welcome, too;
checks can be written to West Center Congregational Church, noting "Yonkers Food Pantry"
on the memo line and can be left in the offering plate on Sunday.
When shopping, how about picking up a couple of things for the Food Pantry?
No matter what you can give, all donations are much appreciated!
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