The Baptismal Garment

I remember one fall afternoon I was sitting in a theology room at CURF listening to a prof teach on the passage of the parable of the wedding feast (Matthew 22). I fidgeted uncomfortably in my seat as it got to the part where the poor man with no wedding garment was thrown out of the wedding. What kind of King would throw out a guest HE had invited?! Especially when at first all those He invited wouldn't even come and he had to bring in the beggars?

The prof watched us all squirm in our seats with a decent amount of glee while we all tried to offer our meager attempts at translation to ease our discomfort. Finally he explained to us that it is important to know our History before we attempt to understand. Because, you see, back then wedding garments were given at the door. They were free. They were a gift. Grace freely given. But this man rejected it... or perhaps in thievery he snuck in. The king had offered His home and His gifts to those who were not worthy, but this man refused it.

Today I looked out my window and for a moment it was easy to forget. In the spot where two plots line my yard, instead, there is nothing but a blanket of beautiful white snow. That snow has been there since the beginning of December. This is very rare because usually there is at least a melting or two. Not this time. It is as if the Lord knew. And He does. Comfort and Joy. He in His tender mercy clothes us in white and even in the bleakness of winter He covers us in His perfect white to show us, He comes even now, He redeems us as His own and takes us to Himself. Merry 9th day of Christmas!!