The Story of Nastagio degli, Sandro Botticelli [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
God our heavenly Father,
you have prepared a royal banquet
to honor your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
You have sent servants
inviting everyone to celebrate!
You have provided royal garments for us to wear,
the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
Help us to take off our own righteousness,
which are but filthy rags,
and put on your righteousness,
dressing ourselves in Jesus’
service and sacrifice,
poverty and shame.
Make us to appear as Jesus appeared,
following him in the ways that he walked,
so that we might enter properly attired.
May we not seek entrance by our own means,
relying on proper associations, or correct morality.
Do not allow us to be cast out of your presence!
Choose us; correct us; clothe us, Father!
Seat us at the table in your kingdom,
for the glory of your most holy name. Amen.
EM
_____________________
But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless.
Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
For many are invited, but few are chosen.
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