15 October, 2023 | Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

 Gospel Mt 22:1-14

The Story of God's Reign

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people

in parables, saying,

"The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king

who gave a wedding feast for his son.

He dispatched his servants

to summon the invited guests to the feast,

but they refused to come.

A second time he sent other servants, saying,

'Tell those invited: "Behold, I have prepared my banquet,

my calves and fattened cattle are killed,

and everything is ready; come to the feast."'

Some ignored the invitation and went away,

one to his farm, another to his business.

The rest laid hold of his servants,

mistreated them, and killed them.

The king was enraged and sent his troops,

destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.

Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready,

but those who were invited were not worthy to come.

Go out, therefore, into the main roads

and invite to the feast whomever you find.'

The servants went out into the streets

and gathered all they found, bad and good alike,

and the hall was filled with guests.

But when the king came in to meet the guests,

he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment.

The king said to him, 'My friend, how is it

that you came in here without a wedding garment?'

But he was reduced to silence.

Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet,

and cast him into the darkness outside,

where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'

Many are invited, but few are chosen."

Reflections:

God’s invitation is made to all without exception; it is our personal duty to be duly prepared for we know neither the time nor the hour. There is one thing we humans often cannot tolerate, and that is uncertainty. We want to be certain, because it gives us security. Security dispels fear and instills confidence. This is what we as God’s chosen race, his saints are guaranteed. On our part, however, we need to  be suitably dressed for the heavenly banquet as St Paul says, “ In sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience.” Over all these we must put on love, which can be defined as a willing, helpful generous outreach to the needy in this world. This outreach is indeed the best garment for the eternal banquet to which we are all invited, and for which we all are destined some day. Time will not wait for me.

Activity: 

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