Today’s Gospel comes from the latter chapters of Matthew, in which Jesus repeatedly speaks about our readiness for the end times and the coming judgment. This parable concludes with the striking image of a man being thrown out of the king’s feast because he was not dressed in a proper wedding garment. While Tradition has often used this passage to communicate the importance of being properly disposed when approaching holy Communion, we ought not forget its other sense. To find a place at both the earthly and the heavenly wedding feast of the Lamb, we must strive to clothe ourselves with righteous deeds (see Rev. 19:7-9), cooperating with the grace the Lord has given us in baptism.

I enjoy thinking about what it would have been like to hear Jesus’ teachings as a first-century Jew. When Jesus calls out the current tenants of the vineyard as being unfaithful, disobedient servants, however, it may have left the crowd feeling a bit anxious. And really, Jesus could say this to each of us at times because, like the wild grapes in the vineyard, when left to our own devices, we also have a tendency to fall into sin and produce unsavory fruit.