COME TO THE BANQUET OF THE LORD
First Reading: Isaiah 25: 6-10
Second Reading: Philippians 4: 12-14,19-20
Gospel Reading: Matthew 22: 1-14
*First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah speaks of a great banquet prepared for the people of the Lord God on the mountain of the Lord. The imagery of the banquet is used to describe the great blessings that the Lord God has in store not only for the people of Israel but for all nations. It prefigures the blessings that will be be brought about by the messianic kingdom through Jesus.
*Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Philippians. Paul describes his own contentment in all situations of life. While thanking the Christian community at Philippi for supporting him, Paul expresses his total and unquestioned trust in the Lord Jesus who always strengthens him.
The parable of the wedding feast Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. The parable of the wedding feast is narrated in great detail. It is a rather strange story. It is about a great wedding feast given by a King. The King invites all types of people for his son's wedding. But not all are responsive to the invitation. We meet four different groups of people in the parable. 1. Those who made light of the King's invitation and did not go for the banquet on various pretexts. They had their own affairs to be busy with and they did not respond to the invitation of the king. 2. Those who treated the King's servants shamefully and even killed some of them. They are the evil forces who do not accept God's reign and are trying to do away with it at all cost. 3. Those who are called from the street corners and byways - they respond to the invitation of the King. These are the people who are from all nations and are willing to accept God's kingdom. God is willing to accept any person to His kingdom without looking at his/her antecedents. 4. Those who refused to wear the wedding garment at the banquet. These are the people who after accepting the invitation of God are not willing to be part of the privilege they received. It shows their unrepentant way of life. The wedding feast symbolizes the heavenly banquet prepared by God for everyone. Not surprisingly we meet all these types of people in the world today. God is very generous in inviting all of us to His banquet. Maybe we have different reasons to make light of it; totally reject it; or accept it with an open heart. If we accept God's invitation wholeheartedly and unconditionally, we will receive great blessings that only the Almighty can dispense with.
"I say to you that many will come from east and west and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." - Matthew 8: 11-12
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