The Lenten season, to which Ash Wednesday opens the door, is a time for heart-searching. "The Son of God goes forth to war a kingly crown to gain," and we are asked, "Who follows in his train?" Our Lord’s path to his kingly glory passes through Gethsemane and Calvary, and if we are to be his followers, we too must "climb the steep ascent of heaven through peril, toil and pain." We must count the cost and be willing to pay the price of true discipleship.

The portion of scripture before us is a direct continuation of the parable in which our Lord compares the kingdom of God to a great banquet to which people are invited but they invent various excuses for spurning the invitation. Here he goes on to show what is expected of those who accept the invitation. Although the banquet itself is free…