By Doug Sparkes
A great king decides to hold a wedding feast in honor of his son’s marriage. Because he really is great, he invites any and all who would come. Many respond, but some, feeling they aren’t worthy wonder what they can bring as a gift. The king being very kind announces that the guests should not bring any gifts at all as everything has already been provided. Instead all are invited to simply come as they are.
Finally the great day of the wedding feast is at hand and the guests arrive in droves. Many come empty handed, but an occasional guest has brought a gift with him. The first gift is a bottle of champagne. “I bottled this myself,” he proudly boasts, “and I only used the finest grapes from my personal grove.”
Later another guest brings a gift. It is a quilt that she has made with her own hands. A little later another gift arrives and soon another. Many of the gifts are simple, but always they are brought with love and sincerity.
When the last guest enters the king closes the door and gathers everyone inside the foyer. He separates the group into two. The first group on his left, are all those who did not bring any gifts and the second group on his right are those who did. Then, looking them all over, he announces to the group on his right, “How dare you try to buy your way into my home! How dare you presume to bring gifts to the wedding feast! Did I not say all were invited and that no gift was necessary! Did I not say all would be provided ahead of time and for you to all come as you are?” And with that the king rounds up the guests who had brought gifts and casts them outside - where the sounds of wailing and smashing of teeth could be heard throughout the night.
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According to some non-Catholic Christians this scenario is what Catholics can expect when they die. Some believe that God will condemn Catholics to hell because Catholics try to “merit” and “earn” their way into heaven with good works.
In response, I must say, Catholics do not try to earn their way to heaven. We never taught it, never thought it, and never will. Our works are natural occurrences resulting from a sincere effort to love and serve the Lord.
When I tell my girlfriend that I love her, she believes me. I don’t give her birthday or Christmas presents to buy her love or to prove mine. The gifts are natural expressions of my devotion to her. Can you imagine a relationship where you tell someone you love them, but you never call or visit, you never remember their birthday or your anniversary together? How long would it take for that relationship to break apart? Would it stand the test of trials or hardship?
Such a relationship is bound to fail because there is nothing to sustain it. The so called expression of “love” or devotion is nothing more than empty words. You would be more honest if you said, “I don’t love you, but I do love how you make me feel and what you can do for me and give to me. How about something right now!”
What kind of god would send Catholics (or anyone else) to hell because they sacrificed their lives to him in devotion, love and hard work? Catholics do not believe the work we do gets us into heaven or even elevates our status before the eyes of God. When we tell God we love him we feel compelled to show him. After all, it’s only natural to do so.
Scripture tells us that God calls us to be his children. Sometimes children do wonderful, but simple things. What kind of mother or father would reject his child if he or she brought them some fresh picked dandelions? Sure, I could do a better job myself. Sure, I would pick a different kind of flower, but when my 4-year-old-niece hands me a special bouquet of weeds that she picked carefully herself and says these are for me because she loves me – what greater or more honest gift of love is there to receive? If my niece understands love enough at age 4 and gives me a gift (or good works) and I, a Catholic, know how to receive it fully, how much more will God receive our simple gifts and simple works of love?