Homily 41: On the Parable that Invites Us To the Son’s Wedding and On Why God Made Those Who Would Perish

By: St. Gregory Palamas

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

"I shall start by quoting to your charity the end of the Lord’s parable in today’s Gospel reading, “Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matt. 22:14). The Lord teaches us this through the whole parable, that we might strive to be not merely among those invited, but among the elect. For anyone who is just one of those called, but not one of the chosen, is not only deprived of the light without evening, but is also led away into outer darkness. After his hands have been bound, because they did not do God’s work, and his feet, because they did not run towards God, he is delivered up to weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. 22:13). "First of all, you might be puzzled why the Lord said that many, but not all, were called. If not everyone was invited, then it is unjust that those who were not should forfeit the promised good things, and experience the threatened torments. Perhaps if they had been called, they might have obeyed. But whereas it is reasonable to suppose that, if they had not been called, it would be unfair for them to be rejected, it is untrue that not everyone was called. When the Lord was carried up to heaven after His resurrection from the dead, He said to His disciples, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15), and, “Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19–20). The fact that the disciples put this command into action is adequately proved by the great Paul. “Have they not heard?” he asks, “Yes, verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world”, referring to the apostles’ preaching (Rom. 10:18). So all were summoned, and those who did not come to the faith, shall justly be punished. Why, therefore, did the Lord say that many were called, but not all? Because at this point He was speaking about those who had come to Christ, which is why He put this statement later, after the parable. If, when someone was invited, he were to obey the summons, and, having been baptized, were to be called by Christ’s name, but were not to behave in a way worthy of his calling, nor fulfil the promises made at his baptism to live according to Christ, then, although he was called, he was not chosen..." St. Gregory represents Orthodox theology at its most sublime. Patristic theology in the fourteenth century, of which St. Gregory is indubitably the greatest exponent, touched the very boundaries of theological expression. St. Gregory’s sermons are among the finest in Patristic literature. In his treatment of the manifold themes contained therein, he is remarkably consistent in maintaining a balance between originality of thought and strict adherence to the tradition of his predecessors. Moreover, his genius resides in the ease with which he demonstrates, as only a master of the spiritual life can, the refreshingly practical significance of the doctrines of the Church for the Life in Christ.