Sunday, October 13, 2002
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
1st Reading: Is 25:6-10
On this mountain
Yahweh Sabaoth will prepare
for all peoples a feast
of rich food and choice wines,
meat full of marrow,
fine wine strained.
On this mountain he will destroy
the pall cast over all peoples,
this very shroud
spread over all nations,
and death will be no more.
The Lord Yahweh will wipe away
the tears from all cheeks and eyes;
he will take away
the humiliation of his people
all over the world: for Yahweh has spoken.
On that day you will say: This is our God.
We have waited for him to save us,
let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
For on this mountain the hand of Yahweh rests.
2nd Reading: Phil 4:12-14, 19-20
Brothers and sisters, I know what it is to be in want and what it is to have plenty. I am trained for both: to be hungry or satisfied, to have much or little. I can do all things in him who strengthens me.
However you did right in sharing my trials.
God himself will provide you with everything you need, according to his riches, and show you his generosity in Christ Jesus. Glory to God, our Father, for ever and ever: Amen.
Gospel:
Mt 22:1-10
Jesus went on speaking to the chief priests and elders
in parables: "This story throws light on the kingdom of heaven. A
king celebrated the wedding of his son. He sent his servants to call the
invited guests to the wedding feast, but the guests refused to come.
Again he sent other servants ordering them to say to the
invited guests: 'I have prepared a banquet, slaughtered my fattened calves
and other animals, and now everything is ready; come then, to the wedding
feast.' But they paid no attention and went away, some to their fields,
and others to their work. While the rest seized the servants of the king,
insulted them and killed them.
The king became angry. He sent his troops to destroy those
murderers and burn their city. Then he said to his servants: 'The wedding
banquet is prepared, but the invited guests were not worthy. Go, then,
to the crossroads and invite everyone you find to the wedding feast.'
The servants went out at once into the streets and gathered
everyone they found, good and bad alike, so that the hall was filled with
guests.
Commentary
The parable of the banquet is a parable of God's invitation to salvation which is open to all. However, some individuals or groups are called ahead by reason of time and place. This fact, however, does not necessarily guarantee admittance into the banquet, into the Kingdom of God. The call to discipleship is a call to salvation, to the Kingdom. Our preparedness to respond to this call is influenced by factors within ourselves and within our social environment. Our personal priorities and group concerns may keep us from responding to God's call and may lead to our eventual exclusion from his Kingdom. We should always be attentive to God's voice through Christ so that we can follow him into the Kingdom.