Religious Education 

WEEKEND GOSPEL

GOSPEL       Matthew 22:1-14

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

Whomsoever you find invite to the wedding.

Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a feast for his son’s wedding. He sent his servants to call those who had been invited, but they would not come. Next he sent some more servants. “Tell those who have been invited” he said “that I have my banquet all prepared, my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, everything is ready. Come to the wedding.” But they were not interested: one went off to his farm, another to his business, and the rest seized his servants, maltreated them and killed them. The king was furious. He dispatched his troops, destroyed those murderers and burnt their town. Then he said to his servants, “The wedding is ready; but as those who were invited proved to be unworthy, go to the crossroads in the town and invite everyone you can find to the wedding.” So these servants went out onto the roads and collected together everyone they could find, bad and good alike; and the wedding hall was filled with guests. When the king came in to look at the guests he noticed one man who was not wearing a wedding garment, and said to him, “How did you get in here, my friend, without a wedding garment?” And the man was silent. Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot and throw him out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen.’

 A beginning point for discussion of this week's Gospel with children:

• What did the king in today’s gospel decide to do for his son?
• What happened when the servants invited the guests?
• When the guests didn’t come who did the king invite?
• Jesus says the kingdom of heaven is like this story. Who does God invite to the banquet?
• We are invited to God’s banquet. How do we show we accept the invitation?