My Dear Parishioners,
Today’s readings can help us reflect on the goodness, abundance and generosity of the Lord, and what our response to these things should be. The first reading describes a banquet on a mountaintop. This banquet is an image of the final banquet that will occur when God completes His plan for the salvation of the world. There will be rich food and choice wines, but more importantly, God will destroy death forever. There will be no more suffering, as tears are wiped away.
As Christians, we understand the reading to be a clear allusion to the heavenly banquet. And every time we come forward to receive the Eucharist, we are given a foretaste of the perfect joy and happiness that awaits us if we remain steadfast in faith.
In the second reading, we are reminded that relying on God and His goodness will bring us to have all that we really need. Whether we are living in abundance or in poverty, God provides for us. Then the Gospel presents us with a parable about a wedding feast. At this feast the feeling is in high contrast to the one in our first reading. There is a decided lack of enthusiasm on the part of those who were invited.
It seems odd, but these people refuse the invitation of their king. Some do initially accept the invitation, but they do not show up. One group even kills the messengers who deliver their invitation. The feast is ready, but those who are invited were not worthy to come, says the king in response to the invitee’s insults. He then issues another invitation. This one is to any and to all, bad or good alike.
Many readers of this parable feel badly for the man who is thrown out of the banquet for not wearing the proper wedding garment. After all, how was he supposed to know that he was going to attend a wedding in the royal palace? The point seems to be that it is not enough to accept the invitation. There is something more we are to do to make ourselves ready to participate in the banquet.
As we look more closely at this parable, we ask ourselves, what does it mean for our lives? This banquet, which received so few positive responses after so many invitations were issued, might be seen in our time as referring to the meal will celebrate each time we come to Mass. The menu, so to speak, is simple, but miraculous. The Lord chooses this setting to nourish our minds and hearts with His word, and our bodies and souls with His Flesh and Blood.
There is a standing invitation, week after week, for this meal, which is held for our benefit. Yet, fewer and fewer people seem to accept the invitation, and many make excuses: We are too busy, We are too tired today, We have places to go, We can wait until week. Others show up but perhaps arrive late or leave early. It may be that these are the guests who are not really investing themselves in this great event-the ones who are not wearing the proper wedding garment. As Jesus continues to invite us to celebrate God’s love through the banquet of the Eucharist, let us respond with humility and gratitude. Let us come to the Lord’s table and respond with our own invitation that He come more fully into our hearts.
All God’s Blessings,
Msgr. Maresca