In this week’s Gospel passage, Jesus tells the parable of the wedding feast, in which those invited to the feast choose not to go. The invitation to the wedding feast is extended to whomever can be found, though those unprepared are cast out. In this week’s lesson, students will consider how they will respond to their invitation into the Kingdom of God.
Have your students read the Gospel passage, or read it aloud to your students, and then answer the focus questions.
Review and discuss the answers when they have completed the focus questions.
Explain to your students that a parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. In the Parable of the Wedding Feast, each figure represents someone or something in the context of Salvation History, the history of God’s saving actions toward mankind.
Have students complete The Parable of the Wedding Feast worksheet and then break out into small groups for discussion.
When they are finished, have students share their findings with the class.
Answer Key
Focus Questions
The invited guests refuse to attend the wedding feast.
Some ignore the invitation and go away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest lay hold of his servants, mistreat them, and kill them.
He sends his troops to destroy the murderers and burn their city.
He sends his servants to the main roadways, where they invite the good and the bad alike.
The king asks, “My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?”
The wedding guest is reduced to silence.
The king has his hands and feet bound, and he is then cast out into the darkness outside, where there is wailing and grinding of teeth.
The Parable of the Wedding Feast
The Israelites: d. Heaven/The Mass: e. God the Father: a. Man presuming his own Righteousness: h. Temple destruction in 70 A.D.: f. Jesus: b. Moses and the Prophets: c. Gentiles/All of Humanity: g.
Directions
Read the Gospel passage aloud to your students as they follow along. Then discuss the focus and reflection questions with them as a class.
Explain to your students that a parable is a simple story used to illustrate a spiritual lesson. In the Parable of the Wedding Feast, each part of the story represents someone or something in Salvation History, the history of God’s saving actions toward mankind. Explain that the Wedding Feast in the Parable also represents Holy Mass, in which we are invited to participate every day!
Have students complete the Wedding Feast Match-Up activity, followed by the Mass preparation list.
When they are done, review their answers as a class and invite volunteers to share their lists with the class.
Finally, have your students draw a picture of themselves at Holy Mass. Be sure to remind them to draw themselves dressed in their Sunday best!
Answer Key
Focus Questions
The king’s son.
Some ignore the invitation and go away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest lay hold of his servants, mistreat them, and kill them.
He sends his servants to the main roadways, where they invite the good and the bad alike.
The king asks, “My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?” The wedding guest is reduced to silence. The King has the guest’s hands and feet bound and has him cast out into the darkness.
The Parable of the Wedding Feast
The King=God the Father The King’s Son=Jesus Christ The King’s Servants=Moses and the Prophets The Wedding Feast=Heaven The Wedding Garment=How we show ourselves to God
