Walking with Jesus: 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

For Sunday, October 15, 2023

Isaiah 25:6-10; Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20; Matthew 22:1-14

Imagine a drive with the family to begin a much-needed vacation. Finally the car is all packed and repacked; the necessary preparations for leaving the home safe and secure are complete. The trip has begun. One hour into it the youngest asks, “Are we there yet?” Others join in: “I’m hungry”… “I have to go to the bathroom.” Basically the kids have no worries … or they're solvable because their parents are up front and in charge of this trip, and soon they’ll arrive and have fun. Life for the parents is about the driver — hopefully the kids will doze off. The road is busy, sometimes treacherous. Questions abound: Is the rent paid? Is the laundry done? Did we put the mail on hold along with the newspaper? Did we forget anything? Did we call everyone? Hopefully, peace and comfort appear. Did you notice the Psalm response today? It's Psalm 23.

For so many people from so many faith convictions, Psalm 23 is comforting. We hear it at funerals but it’s also much more. It’s a sacred hymn that says God is “driving” … God is in control. God handles it all … God is everything. The shepherd leads us to still waters … the shepherd leads us … we shall live in the house of the Lord all days, forever. God is with us with goodness and mercy. God comforts us in our grief. We are all traveling to the house of the Lord.

The Bottom Line: Life can be comforting or a little scary. All is safe when we truly give ourselves over to God’s strength, protection and presence.  

Isaiah develops God’s ultimate triumph over all that stands in the way of God’s plan for salvation. The day will come when “On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples.” [Isaiah 25:6] Isaiah depicts God’s favorite image of God’s mountain towering over all others. The other mountains represent human pride that obscures God’s mountain, God’s plans. Isaiah continues to explain how human pride leads to persecution, violence and tears. Isaiah points to a day when God wipes away all tears. On that day the people will rejoice. God brings salvation — if we can only reflect on the depth and meaning of Jesus’ passion, death, resurrection and ascension. God’s promise and plan of life forever is for all who help the fulfillment of God’s plan.

Paul is most concerned about the spiritual growth of the Philippians. He continually emphasizes that God will care for their needs through Christ. God will provide the faithful with everything they need to live according to the Gospel. Paul uses himself as the model: He knows what it means to live in “distress” where he is now: in prison. He knows the “secret of being well fed and going hungry.” He is thanking the Philippians for their material generosity toward him and his ministry. All gifts have their origin in the abundance and kindness of God. As God shares extravagantly, we receive not only to enjoy it ourselves but for the greater enjoyment of sharing with others. We know this … we have experienced this often. Am I thankful for these lessons?

The feasting continues in Jesus’ parable, which gives perhaps the most lavish and valuable image that could have be chosen at that time. Who would reject an invitation to the massive beauty and sumptuousness of a royal banquet? Just imagining what it would be like is mind-blowing. Yet the king seems almost apologetic when he receives refusals from those invited. Then, with the second refusal and violence, his mood turns to rage: “Many are invited but few are chosen.” Being invited to the eschatological banquet does not imply free entrance. The wedding garment symbolizes the moral preparation essential for entry into the kingdom of heaven. No one can presuppose automatic entrance simply for showing up.

THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL POINT:

To respond to God’s invitation to heaven and to believe in His kingdom for all of us is not accomplished once and for all. Our response must be consistent and constant, external and often picked up again and again — or it tends to fade away. That’s why we come each week to the Eucharistic banquet. This is how we strengthen our relationship with Jesus. This commitment maintains our Christian faith. This is what Jesus means when He assures His followers and us: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise them on the last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me and I in them.” [John 6:53-56]

So I reflect on:

• I travel to the house of the Lord with the community of faith — past, present and future. Who in our family is hungry? Who is in need? Who is in need of health care, relief from war, freedom from abuse, prisons, living on the streets under bridges? Do I notice them?
• What obstacles do I encounter to using God’s gifts of goodness and mercy? How can I break these down?

Sacred Space 2023 states:

“The parable tells a very strange story: All those who received the invitation to the king’s banquet not only refused to attend but treated the messengers very badly. The king was not to be stopped. He sent his servant to the crossroads and gathered ‘all they could find, good and bad alike.’ The hall was full. God’s invitation to partake of His great banquet is not restricted to the Jews, His kingdom is now open to all, without any distinction, even to those who seem unworthy. I stand and wonder at God’s goodness and mercy towards all. I ask to be like the Father in His mercy and generosity.”