Léctio sancti Evangélii secúndum Matthǽum (22,1-14)
In illo témpore: Respóndens Iésus dixit íterum in parábolis princípibus sacerdótum et senióribus dicens: “Símile factum est regnum cælórum hómini regi, qui fecit núptias fílio suo. Et misit servos suos vocáre invitátos ad núptias, et nolébant veníre. Iterum misit álios servos dicens: ‘Dícite invitátis: Ecce prándium meum parávi, tauri mei et altília occísa, et ómnia paráta; veníte ad núptias.’ Illi autem neglexérunt et abiérunt, álius in villam suam, álius vero ad negotiatiónem suam; réliqui vero tenuérunt servos eíus et contumélia afféctos occidérunt. Rex autem irátus est et, missis exercítibus suis, pérdidit homicídas illos et civitátem illórum succéndit. Tunc ait servis suis: ‘Núptiæ quidem parátæ sunt, sed qui invitáti erant, non fuérunt digni; ite ergo ad éxitus viárum, et quoscúmque invenéritis, vocáte ad núptias.’ Et egréssi servi illi in vias, congregavérunt omnes, quos invenérunt, malos et bonos; et implétæ sunt núptiæ discumbéntium. Intrávit autem rex, ut vidéret discumbéntes, et vidit ibi hóminem non vestítum veste nuptiáli et ait illi: ‘Ámice, quómodo huc intrásti, non habens vestem nuptiálem?’ At ille obmútuit. Tunc dixit rex minístris: ‘Ligáte pedes eíus et manus et míttite eum in ténebras exterióres: ibi erit fletus et stridor déntium.’ Multi enim sunt vocáti, pauci vero elécti.”
At that time, Jesus spake again in parables to the chief priests and the elders, saying: The Kingdom of Heaven is likened to a man being a king, which made a marriage to his son. And he sent his servants to call them that were invited to the marriage: and they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying: Tell them that were invited, Behold I have prepared my dinner; my beeves & fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come ye to the marriage. But they neglected and went their ways, one to his farm, and another to his merchandise: and the rest laid hands upon his servants, and spitefully entreating them, murdered them. But when the king had heard of it, he was wroth, and sending his hosts, destroyed those murderers, and burnt their city. Then he saith to his servants: The marriage indeed is ready: but they that were invited, were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the high ways; and whosoever you shall find, call to the marriage. And his servants going forth into the ways, gathered together all that they found, bad and good: and the marriage was filled with guests. And the king went in to see the guests: and he saw there a man not attired in a wedding garment. And he saith to him: Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? But he was dumb. Then the king said to the waiters: Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the utter darkness: there shall be weeping & gnashing of teeth. For many be called, but few elect.
