Sunday, October 11
Matthew 22:1–14
At that time, Jesus once again spoke in parables to the chief priests and the elders of the people:
“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.
He sent his servants to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, but they refused to come.
Again, he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: I have prepared my banquet, my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.’
But those who were invited paid no attention and went away, one to his farm and another to his business.
The rest seized his servants, mistreated them, and killed them.
The king became furious and sent his troops, who destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the crossroads and invite everyone you find to the wedding feast.’
The servants went out into the streets and gathered everyone they found, both good and bad. The wedding hall was filled with guests.
[When the king came in to greet the guests, he noticed a man who was not wearing wedding clothes.
He said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’
But the man remained silent.
Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and throw him outside into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
For many are called, but few are chosen.]” The Gospel of the Lord.
Commentary
In our society, being in a hurry has become a requirement for many things. This constant rush may prevent us from fully appreciating the meaning of sharing a meal in the time of Christ.
A banquet is not merely a physical act of eating. It involves much more: sharing food, space, and time, but also sharing a common purpose and a sense of joy.
During a meal, conversations are shared, and hearts begin to open. We learn to enter into communion with the feelings and ideas that emerge through these conversations.
People do not want to enter Jesus' banquet, so they must be urged to come in. In that banquet hall, both good and bad people gather.
It is not surprising that there is resistance to accepting God's invitation to His banquet. God offers us something better, but we do not always accept it.
Sin is a rejection of God and a refusal to enter into communion with Him.
Through this image, Jesus teaches us that the Kingdom of God is a process.
Questions for Discussion and Reflection
Do I accept the banquet God offers me, or do I reject it because of hurry or distractions?
Do I participate in a communion of hearts and feelings with others?
Do I recognize the Kingdom of God as a process that requires openness and patience?
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