09/10/2011 - 28th. Sunday in Ordinary Season - Year A
1Reading Is 25,6-10 Psalm 22 2Reading Phil 4,12-14.19-20 Gospel Mt 22,1-14
A banquet rich and joyful! The prophet Isaiah proclaims a great feast because
every sign of sadness was to disappear: even death was to disappear! The banquet
which was to be prepared and offerred is therefore rich and joyful as ever.
This is the work God promises, the gift that shows his goodness towards his
people, even though the people was marked with evil works and remained so.
Jesus picked the image of the banquet to tell a parable. This is also addressed
to the chief priests and to the pharesees, to those persons who expressed hostility
towards him. It is important to know to whom the parable is addressed, so that
one can take the main message of it. The wedding feast is offerred by a king
for his son: interesting how the bridge is not mentioned. It speaks of a king
who prepares a banquet to celebrate a wedding, Jesus make us understand that
we are in the times of the Messiah, the King, Son of God! To this wedding feast
are called those who are already invited. The reference is clear: the ones invited
for the feast are those from the people of Israel, a people loved by God as
the groom loves his bride: this is confirmed by the Scriptures. Now they are
called: this means the one who was to fulfill the sponsal love of God, the groom
is present, the Messiah. How come the invited persons do not want to take part?
The Messiah does not interest them, they dont want to recognize him, dont want
to accept that God loves them through him, they hold that they can live without
God and without his love. The interlocutors of Jesus need to understand that
they were the ones who refusing him, are refusing God's invitation. They have
decided for his death and were waiting only for the right moment to fulfill
it. The Lord referred to this, to help them find themselves in those who are
worthy to have their city destroyed. The invitation for the wedding feast, hence
turn out to be, a cause of rejection, the proclamation of grave sufferrings.
The parables continues: God is not conditioned by the refusal of his people.
He wants to comunicate his love in practice, he wants that his banquet to be
enjoyed: if the people does'nt want to enjoy it, so let the other peoples enjoy
it. "Go now to the crossroads and invite all those whom you find to come
to the feast". The refusal of the people of Israel gives God the occassion
to invite others, to show and give his love to all men, those who till now were
excluded from his presence. These, "good and evil", accept and welcome
the invitation. Outside the parable: the sinners and pagans are to accept the
invitation of God, are to accept Jesus. There were already some signs: the faith
of the centurian of Capharnum, the woman from Sidon and the acceptance of the
Samaritans have already made one understand that the pagans were ready to adhere
to the Lord. It is what we see also today. Sometimes we see conversions of people
from other faiths, and knowing Jesus they start a new life with joy and fortitude,
not withstanding the danger of being persecuted and rejected. While we see others
leaving the Church and as if we can do nothing. Others come to Her witnessing
of finding life and peace in the Lord and that they can serve him and adore
him in the Church.
The parable of Jesus continues with something which seem to be addressed to
new believers more than to the pharisees and the scribes. This is with regards
to those who accepted the invitation for the wedding feast. How did you enter
here? You who have accepted Jesus as Saviour, how did you accepted him? Did
you wear the dress for the feast that was given to you, or you entered with
your dress? Has your life changed when you accepted Jesus, or you remained the
one like before? Have you put aside your vices and egoisms to put on humility
and obedience, love and fedelity? Have you put aside your pride to welcome into
your mind and heart what the Church proposes to you? If you want to stick to
your beliefs, which are different from the ones expressed in the Credo of the
Church, your selfish and sensual pleasures, if you refuse the cross in your
life, you can stay for the banquet: you have refused the gift that God gave
you, you are sinning judging him: he cannot make you happy, if you have refused
the source of joy.
"The Father of our Lord Jesus the Christ enlightens the eyes of our heart
to make us understand the hope we are called to". Halleluia!