SOURCE: http://newtheologicalmovement.blogspot.com/2014/10/what-man-without-wedding-garment-was.html
Overview of the parable
firstportion of the parable is divided into two parts: The ingratitude of the Jews the opening ofsalvation to the gentilesA parable of the final judgment
While the firstportion of the parable emphasizes that fact that salvation is indeed offered toall people bad and good alike, thelatter scene describes the day of judgment when each will receive the properreward of his labors this scene is a representation of the judgment, we can quickly discern whatthis man is lacking who had no wedding garment
Who will be judged on the last day
St. Thomas (on theauthority of St. Gregory the Great) states the following concerning the lastjudgment: “There are four orders in the judgment:
some will not be judged, butwill judge and be saved, namely, the Apostles and apostolic men
others will bejudged and be saved, as the moderately good
still others will be judged and bedamned, as wicked believers
finally, some will not be judged, but will bedamned, as all unbelievers
Preliminary note about the final judgmentand the particular judgment
those who die before the final judgment will have already receive thepronouncement of their eternity in the particular judgment at the moment oftheir death
The damned in hell and the blessed in heaven will neverthelessalso undergo a general judgment in which the particular judgment is mademanifest to all
judgmentgiven by God at the moment of death certainly cannot change or be altered
general judgment is necessary as extending the authority of God throughoutall history
in the general judgment this power is revealed as triumphing overall the injustices which occurred throughout the course of human history
Not judged, and saved
Those who willnot be judged but will be saved are represented by the servants in the parable of the wedding feast
So excellent andholy, these greatest saints will simply be saved without any judgment of theiractions
Judged, and saved
guestswho have come to the wedding feast
they are found tobe properly clothed
died in the state of grace and, upon the inspection of the king, arefound worthy
Not judged, and not saved
Without faith, man cannot please God – without sanctifying grace, no work can be of any value for eternal salvation
thosewho refused to believe but, hardened in their perfidity, refused to come to the wedding feast
St. Thomas (on theauthority of St. Gregory the Great) states the following concerning the lastjudgment: “There are four orders in the judgment: some will not be judged, butwill judge and be saved, namely, the Apostles and apostolic men others will bejudged and be saved, as the moderately good still others will be judged and bedamned, as wicked believers finally, some will not be judged, but will bedamned, as all unbelieversPreliminary note about the final judgmentand the particular judgment
those who die before the final judgment will have already receive thepronouncement of their eternity in the particular judgment at the moment oftheir death The damned in hell and the blessed in heaven will neverthelessalso undergo a general judgment in which the particular judgment is mademanifest to all judgmentgiven by God at the moment of death certainly cannot change or be altered general judgment is necessary as extending the authority of God throughoutall history in the general judgment this power is revealed as triumphing overall the injustices which occurred throughout the course of human historyNot judged, and saved
Those who willnot be judged but will be saved are represented by the servants in the parable of the wedding feast So excellent andholy, these greatest saints will simply be saved without any judgment of theiractionsJudged, and saved
guestswho have come to the wedding feast they are found tobe properly clothed died in the state of grace and, upon the inspection of the king, arefound worthyNot judged, and not saved
Without faith, man cannot please God – without sanctifying grace, no work can be of any value for eternal salvation thosewho refused to believe but, hardened in their perfidity, refused to come to the wedding feast
Judged, and not saved–without a wedding garment
those whodo have faith and who therefore are united to the Church (either visibly or, atleast, invisibly), but who lack charity which gives life to the soul
the believer who is in the state of mortal sin, lackingcharity and good works
the man who has faith, but no works
Many are called but few are chosen
itis most necessary that we should die in the state of grace with charity in oursoul
if a man were to have worn his wedding garment for most ofhis life, if he were to throw it away for some cheep momentary pleasure and tobe found naked when the king should return!
Prayer assures us of salvation! If only we pray daily for the graceto persevere to the end, and if we pray also during moments of temptation, weshall surely be saved
those whodo have faith and who therefore are united to the Church (either visibly or, atleast, invisibly), but who lack charity which gives life to the soul the believer who is in the state of mortal sin, lackingcharity and good works the man who has faith, but no worksMany are called but few are chosen
itis most necessary that we should die in the state of grace with charity in oursoul if a man were to have worn his wedding garment for most ofhis life, if he were to throw it away for some cheep momentary pleasure and tobe found naked when the king should return! Prayer assures us of salvation! If only we pray daily for the graceto persevere to the end, and if we pray also during moments of temptation, weshall surely be saved
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