28th Week of Ordinary Time
Isaiah 25:6–10a
Psalm 23:1–3a, 3b–4, 5, 6
Philippians 4:12–14, 19–20
Matthew 22:1–14
God is provident. He meets our needs, and He has supplied an answer to everything that troubles us. The mountain is the place where we encounter God. An image that still offers us hope is that of a banquet, to which we are all invited.
Isaiah describes this hope in the face of loss and death. “On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines. On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, the web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever.”
Jesus takes up the image of a banquet in the parable of the wedding feast. In the ancient world, the wedding was generally an experience shared by the whole community that lived in a town. Even today, in many parts of the world, this communal reality is evident. It was not a surprise to the hearers of the parable that it would be a grand feast.
The refusal of those invited and their violence against the messengers continues the prophetic tale that Jesus has been telling over the past few weeks. The response of the king – putting an end to the ungrateful murderers of his messengers – was the way of the world. Violence begets anger and more violence.
The general invitation to the feast is a renewal of God’s call to everyone to share the kingdom that is offered. Lest those who realize that Jesus is speaking to them should think that there does not need to be a change in their way of thinking, the coda to the parable about the guest who fails to wear the wedding garment is a reminder that a change of mind and heart and way of life is expected of all who enter the kingdom.
The king supplies the garment. The grace to have a change of mind and heart is available to all. We are called to welcome all to the feast, but we are also all called to wear the garment of the feast, becoming the people God wants us to be.
St. Paul captures this sentiment when he speaks of learning to be content in every circumstance. “I know how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I can do all things in him who strengthens me.”
He continues with the promise of providence: “My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father, glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Many in our world are left out in the highways and byways. They have not heard the invitation to the banquet. Members of the organizations who work among them will tell you readily that homelessness is growing even in the most affluent areas of our country. The attitudes of those who have can be less than respectful, judging people by their circumstances and presuming that they are unworthy to share in the banquets that continue.
The Lord invites us to pay attention to the message that all are called, and all are welcome. We must all render an account for our reception of the invitation.
We are also invited to look into our own hearts and to our behaviors at the banquet. Do we live up to the Eucharist that we share? Are we welcoming to all who join us? Do we allow the Word that is proclaimed to change our hearts? Does the sacrament continue to shine through us when we leave the sanctuary? Are we aware of our own mission as ministers of providence?
Have we learned to dwell in the house of the Lord and to invite others to join us?