Twenty-Eighth Sunday of the Year (Year A)

Twenty-Eighth Sunday of the Year October 15, 2023

Isaiah 25:6-10   Philippians 4:12-14.19-20   Matthew 22:1-14

(Image courtesy: Google)

At a church conference in Omaha, people were given helium-filled balloons and told to release them at some point in the service when they felt joy in their hearts. All through the service worshippers kept releasing balloons. At the end of the service it was discovered that most of them still had their balloons. If this experiment were repeated in our church today, how many of us would still have our balloons at the end of the service? Many of us think of God's house as a place for seriousness, a place to close one’s eyes and pray, but not a place of celebration, a place where we can have fun. The parable of the Great Supper in today's gospel paints a different picture. The Christian assembly is a gathering of those who are called to the Lord’s party. In the Eucharist we say of ourselves, “Happy are those who are called to his supper.” The Lord invites us to a supper, a banquet, a feast. Can you imagine a wedding feast in which everyone sits stone-faced, cold and quiet?

The parable shows us three possible kinds of guests. There are the absentee guests who initially accept the invitation, but when the time comes to honour the invitation they draw back. There are the guests without wedding garments who attend the feast but do not take the trouble to prepare adequately for it, as the occasion deserves. And then there are the guests with wedding garments who make the necessary preparation to present themselves fit for the king’s banquet.

Let us note that God's invitation is a Generous Invitation: The parable begins with a king who prepares a great wedding feast for his son and sends out invitations. This king symbolizes God, and the wedding feast represents the kingdom of heaven. God's invitation to His kingdom is generous, open to all, and extended to both the good and the bad. It's a universal call to salvation.

Secondly, there is a rejection of God's Invitation: However, what we see in the parable is the rejection of this generous invitation by the invited guests. They make excuses, prioritize other matters, and even mistreat the messengers. This rejection reflects the reality of people turning away from God and His message.

Here come the new guests: In response to the refusal of the original guests, the king invites others from the streets, both good and bad, and the wedding hall is filled. This signifies that God's invitation is not limited to a select few. It's an open invitation, and it's given to those who respond with open hearts.

It is an invitation to us ‘Being Spiritually Prepared’: While the invitation is open to all, there's a crucial aspect of the parable that we cannot overlook. The king notices a man without the proper wedding garment. This garment represents spiritual preparedness. The man was present physically but lacked the disposition of heart and soul required for the banquet. As a result, he is cast out into darkness.

What is my response? This parable challenges us to reflect on our response to God's invitation. Are we like the original guests, making excuses, and not prioritizing God's call in our lives? Or are we like the new guests, embracing the invitation with open hearts and responding to God's love?

Spiritual Preparedness: Equally important is our spiritual preparedness. It's not enough to physically attend church or consider ourselves Christians. We must cultivate a deep relationship with God, living out our faith in love, mercy, and forgiveness. We must put on the wedding garment of righteousness, humility, and a contrite heart. This garment signifies that we are prepared to be part of God's kingdom.

As we reflect on the Parable of the Banquet, let us remember that God's invitation is continually extended to us. It is a call to grace, love, and eternal life. However, it's not enough to receive the invitation; we must also prepare ourselves spiritually to respond to that call. Let us be like the new guests in the parable, who accepted the invitation with open hearts and clothed themselves in the garment of holiness.

May God's grace empower us to be spiritually prepared and responsive to His invitation, so that we may one day rejoice with Him in the eternal banquet of heaven.

Happy Sunday