XXVIII Sunday:[A]: Is 25:6-10a; Phil 4:12-14, 19-20; Mt 22:1-14

XXVIII  Sunday:[A]: Is 25:6-10a; Phil 4:12-14, 19-20; Mt 22:1-14

Introduction:  The Gospel Reading from St. Matthew contains a parable which likens the Kingdom of Heaven to a 'wedding feast' to which all are graciously invited. Some have rejected the invitation; others have accepted. But admission to the feast is not enough. It is necessary to don / put on the wedding garment. Participation in the feast requires living lives worthy of the Kingdom.

Exegesis: In the Gospel Reading of today from St. Matthew, we have yet another Kingdom parable, 'the Parable of the Wedding Feast.' It is third and last in the series of three consecutive parables, called 'the Parables of Rejection.' It is, as the others were, also addressed to the 'chief priests and elders of the people.' This parable of the wedding banquet like the parable of the vineyard and the wicked tenants has an allegorical emphasis. This parable stresses on the story of the salvation history from the initial sending of the prophets to Israel through the renewed invitation of the followers of Jesus. It concludes with the Last Judgment when the good and bad from among the community are sorted out.

In the first part of today's gospel parable Jesus tells about the wedding feast hosted by God. The invited guests do not show up, so other guests are gathered from the streets and invited to share the table and the joy. What about us? Do we accept God's invitation and share in His joy, or do we also ignore His invitation and disappoint Him with our excuses?

The Gospel parable of today is also a challenge to accept God’s invitation. Moreover, the second part of parable says, we need to have a proper wedding garment if we are to enter the wedding banquet of the Lord. It is the characteristic mark of the wedding guest and without it there is no entry. Symbolically, it is the garment of virtue that the faithful must clothe themselves with. But the choice is ours.

God invites us all out of a free act of kindness. The invitation is to all, the party is free for all, yet anyone who decides to attend has a responsibility to present himself or herself fit for the king's company. The Kingdom of Heaven is freely offered to us.  We think that other things are more important and we are too busy to accept God’s invitation to His table. The second part of the parable that puzzles many people and that is the last part about the wedding garment.  Some scholars have suggested that wedding garments were provided to guests as they arrived because the king, apparently a kind and generous man, would not have responded with such anger if they were not extremely important and easily obtainable.  Jesus used this part of the parable to warn his followers that even though a person says they believe in him, it’s not going to help them much if they do not put their faith into action.

Joke:  “Mummy,” asked a little girl, “do men ever go to heaven?”  “Why, yes, of course, my dear,” answered the mother.  “Why do you ask?” “Because I have never seen angels with mustaches, whiskers or beards.”  “Well,” replied the mother, “some men do go to Heaven, but they get there only by a close shave!”

Practical Applications: 1) We need to participate in the Eucharistic banquet with proper preparation by repenting of our sins and by actively participating in the prayers and singing during the Holy Mass. Participating in Holy Mass is the best preparation and source of power for our future participation in the Heavenly banquet.   2) Keep wearing the wedding garment of holiness and righteousness, the state of grace, all the time and appreciate and make use of the provision for God’s graces in the Church: a) We received the “wedding garment” of sanctifying grace in Baptism and we receive additional graces to retain it through the other Sacraments. b) Our participation in the Eucharistic celebration and personal and family prayers helps us to recharge our spiritual batteries and enables us to lead Spirit-filled lives. c) Jesus nourishes us in the Church through the proclamation of word of God and through his own body and blood in the Holy Communion.

Introduction : XXVIII Sunday in OT

Message: The Lord invites us to a banquet, one of the favorite images of messianic times.  This banquet is spread before us and can fully satisfy our needs, yet how often have we refused the Lord’s invitation to share in the riches prepared for us?

Saints and Events in this Week:  14 – Fourteenth – Tuesday – Saint Callistus I, pope, martyr; 15 – Fifteenth – Wednesday – Saint Teresa of Jesus, virgin, doctor of the Church; 16 – Sixteenth – Thursday – Saint Hedwig, religious; Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, virgin; 17 – Seventeenth – Friday – Saint Ignatius of Antioch, bishop, martyr; 18 – Eighteenth – Saturday – Saint Luke, Evangelist;