28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

My dear parishioners.

God Is Good!!! All the Time!!! And All the Time !!! God Is Good!!!

In his service to God, Isaiah was fully committed to steering people toward the path of life. Earlier, he gave oracles of salvation to motivate the king and people to seek security in God first. This reading belongs to a larger unit (Is 13–35) in which the prophet rebukes the nations for their prideful ways. However, by contrast, this passage celebrates the wonderful transformation possible once human pride is set aside and God’s ways prevail. The opening verses of this chapter (Is 25:1–5) already praise God for ultimate victory over human pride.

This week’s Gospel shares some features with last week’s parable of the vineyard. Both parables are addressed to the same audience—the chief priests and the elders of the people. There are allegorical features that are similar (prophets/servants being killed) as well as both parables deal with the dynamic of rejection. Today’s story, however, deals with the kingdom of heaven being compared to a wedding feast which calls to mind the messianic banquet (Is 25:6–9).

Two invitations refused. The servants issue an initial invitation to the wedding banquet, but surprisingly, all refuse to come. With a greater sense of urgency, a second invitation is sent by additional servants to other potential guests. They failed to detect any sense of urgency and, thus, refused the invitation. Not only that, but some of those invited guests mistreated the servants and killed them. The outraged king destroyed those murderers and burned their city (perhaps a reference to the burning of Jerusalem).

Outcasts invited. The king still insists on having the wedding banquet, but now the invitation does not go to the proper, acceptable guests. A new invitation is issued to anyone who will come. The servants are instructed to go out to the marginal areas and bring in the good and the bad. This time the king’s invitation is accepted and the banquet hall is filled. So far the dynamic is understandable. Two invitations have been extended to those who would be considered worthy guests. Both groups refused and one group refused with violence and murder. The king, in turn, destroyed them and extended the invitation to anyone who would accept it. It would seem that finally everything is in place for the banquet to begin. That is not so.

No wedding garment. As the king surveys the collection of guests finally assembled, he notices one person without a wedding garment. Many would say no big deal, but not the king. He severely reprimands the person without the wedding garment, binds him up, and throws him out of the banquet. Why? Though sinners were invited to the banquet, they were expected to repent. Just showing up is not enough. Many are called to salvation, but not all make it to the final election. There is no room for complacency on the part of anyone invited.

Excerpts from “Sunday Homily Helps”, is used by permission of Franciscan Media. www.FranciscanMedia.org. All rights reserved

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Aloysius