From the Friars: Few are Chosen
In the Gospel parable for today the guest without the wedding garment is cast into the outer darkness; in other words, condemned to hell. Then Jesus adds, “many are called, but few are chosen.” (Mt 22:14) The wedding garment could be understood as the state of grace, being in right relationship with God. This gift is received at Baptism but may be lost through culpable mortal sin. It can be regained through a good confession. Our Lord’s words are frightening because they give the impression that not many are going to make it to Heaven.
The man without wedding garment is thrown out of the banquet.
When asked directly how many will be saved, Jesus responds, “Strive to enter by the narrow gate…” (Lk 13:23) On this occasion He again expresses that many go the way of perdition. We should be about the business of following Him in the way of the Cross and not preoccupied about matters beyond us. But if few are chosen, do we really have any say in the matter? If God decides who is saved, how could we possibly change His decision?
This question touches on the mystery of predestination, which the Bible mentions in several places. (e.g., Acts 4, Rom 8, 1Cor 2, Eph 1) The Church teaches that God does not predestine anyone to hell. (CCC 1037) If someone is condemned it is because they freely and knowingly rejected Our Heavenly Father’s love and mercy through unrepented grave sin. Calvin’s erroneous teaching about radical predestination denies human freedom and makes Our Creator seem to be a cruel tyrant.
But the mystery remains. Many great minds have struggled over this relationship between God’s fore-knowledge and free will. “When he establishes his eternal plan of ‘predestination,’ he includes in it each person’s free response to his grace.” (CCC 600) In humility we must accept what has been revealed to us, and trust that with time and growth we will understand the paradox more fully. And we should renew our zeal to pray and do penance for the conversion of poor sinners, so that they will not be found without their wedding garment and be cast into the outer darkness.
God bless you.
— Fr. Peter