28th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Isaiah 25:6-10 | Philippians 4:12-14 | Matthew 22:1-14
Someone has said that the Bible is a Book of invitations from God to humankind urging us to become his partners in redeeming the world. In today’s readings Isaiah and Matthew share a common theme of such an invitation.
The Prophet Isaiah describes a future feast prepared by God for all people. Isaiah looks forward to a time when all nations would no longer be separated, a foretelling that the Messiah’s Kingdom was soon to begin. That a feast prepared on mount Zion would also be made in Jerusalem for the spiritual needs of the whole world. By this he meant that a church would be an assembling of the Jews and Gentiles united together under the Great Master of the Feast our Lord Jesus Christ. “The Lord of Hosts will make to all people a Feast where all people will be converted and joined together in participations of Divine Blessings.” (Biblehub)
Isaiah’s Feast was on a Holy Mountain, full of food, joy and life. In Matthew, Jesus tells the parable of the wedding banquet where a king invites guests to his son’s wedding. In the Gospel we hear that people refused to come. Then others, both good and bad were invited in their place from the streets to fill the banquet hall.
How did we respond to God’s invitation to His Kingdom to receive His Son in faith? The Banquet God offered us was the mercy and grace we receive through the Gospel and are rewarded with the Beautiful Feast of the meal of salvation the Eucharist. “So put on the garments of Christ, clothe yourself in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience and love”. (Max Lucado). In doing this we honor and glorify the King for we have gone from the invited to His Kingdom.
In his letter to the Philippians, Paul reminds us that he wore the wedding garment, the righteousness of Christ, the sanctification of the Spirit. Contentment is the secret of inner peace. Contentment knows that if we have Jesus we have enough. In contrast to the talk of rich food in Isaiah and Matthew, “Paul sat down to a meal of bread and water, bowed his head and declared, all this and Jesus too. To Paul, contentment lies not in who we are but in whose we are”. (Biblegateway)
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in
Glory in Christ Jesus”. (Philippians 4:19)
Sr. Bridget Mary Troy, OP
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