Advent Devotional December 5, 2025

Scripture

Matthew 22:1–14

1 Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’ 5 But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ 10 Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad, so the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, 12 and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless. 13 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.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Devotion

The Rev. Dr. Andrew Taylor-Troutman ’24

There is prophetic fire burning from the other lectionary lessons, for example, against those “who turn justice to wormwood and bring righteousness to the ground.” (Amos 5:7) However, in my pastoral experience, the prevalent sentiment among modern Christians perpetuates Marcionism: asserting that the Old Testament God is characterized by judgment while the New Testament God is kind and loving. Not only does this viewpoint risk a negative view of Judaism, but it also fails to account for the prophetic thrust of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus was a prophet in the vein of his Hebrew predecessors. For Christians, Advent also serves as a “refiner’s fire” call to repentance (Mal 3:2). We anticipate Christ's return to judge both the living and the dead.

While prophetic judgement is evident in the parable of Matthew 22, another modern tendency is to contend that this judgement only pertains to other people. “They” are the “bad ones” mentioned in this parable (Matt 22:10), or the “weeds” of a previous parable (Matt 13:24–30). Jesus warned against weaponizing his words with the eye-catching metaphor of “logs and specks” (Matt 7:3–5).

As I seek humble and true repentance, I find the language of twelve-step programs useful, though I do not struggle with substance addiction. One must be willing to submit to a higher power. But before this, poet Alison Luterman claims one must “be willing to be willing.”

Perhaps such willingness, however imperfect, is akin to being clothed in the wedding robe (Matt 22:11). We “put on the Lord Jesus” (Rom 13:14), for our Savior acknowledges, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt 26:41).

Prayer

Long-expected Savior, if there is a tough truth for us to learn this Advent, may we be found willing. May we also recall Your abiding grace and steadfast love through Jesus Christ, who alone is the Lord, who reigns and prays for us, whose abiding presence is life, and whose return is hope. Amen.