Alberic Jacovone OSB
|
Return to Articles and Reflections |
YEAR A
TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY - 9.10.05
Is 25,6-10; Phil 4,12-14.19-20; Mt 22,1-14
Weddings: Invitations & proper dress
You
are cordially invited.
Today’s Gospel presents us with a parable which is as curious as last week’s
‘wicked tenants’ (Mt. 21,33-41). Like all parables, it’ meant to shake us
from our inconsistencies & sense of superiority. Here, the invited guests
-one by one- offer futile excuses & refuse to attend the wedding of the
King’s Son. The King, in his rage, sends armies to kill those wicked subjects
and destroy their cities (Was Matthew hinting at the destruction of Jerusalem in
70AD??). The unworthy guests represent people of all time who resist God’s
Grace. And since this is the case, then God has the right to invite one &
all, good & bad alike, believers & unbelievers of all time to his
Kingdom. On purpose, the parable brings odd situations in the story, which
becomes quite bizarre. Imagine: someone who’s been summarily forced to
attend the wedding, is then ‘cast into outer darkness’, because he has no
‘wedding garment’. Matthew here implies that our personal
disposition of gratitude, belief, repentance & good words is
required: since -whoever we think we are- we simply cannot take for granted
God’s invitation. On the contrary, we must express our gratitude by working
for our salvation in fear & trembling. Indeed, we must respond joyfully to
the invitation to approach the Eucharistic Banquet. One thing is for sure: God
himself has prepared a luscious banquet to celebrate the wedding of God’s Son
to his Bride, the Church, for whom He offers his life on the cross.
Today, we are asked to pray: “Thank you God: you choose to your Son’s
banquet, those who consider
themselves strong, staunch & worthy (but in the end, they prove themselves
unworthy. In fact -Lord- you choose the cripple, the lame & the rejects who
have no claim to God’s generosity, so that God’s unconditionally love may be
recognized.
God’s
invitation & our response. Today, we are asked to place ourselves in the two parables: since one
is about a fantastic invitation from the King of heaven, we sadly, discover how
often we are worried with day to day insignificant affairs; & bother little
with the Banquet of life. Just reflect on the importance of God’s invitation:
He calls us to be -even every day!- in Communion with him, such is the
Eucharistic banquet, He has prepared for us all. The second parable is about the
person who did...bother to accept the King’s invitation but did not take care
to wear the appropriate wedding garment. Both parables are linked in one
important point: the King’s “quality invitation” requires our “quality
response”. Sadly, there are those who do not bother to respond & those who
do not bother to prepare & become worthy of God’s privilege. The two
parables make it clear that there is a constant connection between God’s
invitation & our duty to respond gratefully & be ever worthy of God’s
honour. Today, reflect prayerfully on your First Communion Day: What did it feel
like to be with Our Lord? How did you & your family prepare for such a
wonderful event? How well dressed were you? Have you a photo of that day. And if
you went through the program called “Rite of Initiation for Adults” (R.C.I.A.),
how did you feel on that wonderful Easter Vigil night, when you became a member
of the Church. How prepared were you? The symbol of sacred meal has its place in
our Catholic way of life: right through life we are nourished at God’s banquet
of life: we call it ‘Blessed Sacrament - Body & Blood of Christ - in
continuity with the meal that Jesus shared with his disciples at his Last Supper
& is the foretaste of the eternal banquet we will enjoy in heaven. We are
honouring this year as the Year of the
Eucharist!
_____________________________________