Daily Reflection – Oct 15, 2017

Sunday 15 October 2017

First Reading:IS 25:6-10A
Responsorial Psalm:
I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
PS 23:1-3A, 3B-4, 5, 6
Second Reading: PHIL 4:12-14, 19-20
Gospel Reading: MT 22:1-14

Today’s Note: Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel Reading:

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.”

Reflection:

How is it that you came in here without a wedding garment? (Matthew 22:12)

According to Jesus’ parable, some who were invited to the wedding banquet said no. They were too busy. And it seems that one man who did show up hadn’t come to honor the king’s son. He came without the proper wedding garment. He came to partake of the royal feast, but with a less-than-royal purpose.

In Scripture, the image of a wedding garment is used to represent the essential elements of our life in Christ. It is described as a garment of salvation, a garment of obedience, and a garment of purity.

Now, if we were to apply this parable to the Mass, the story might look like this: some ignored God’s invitation to worship. One man, however, came and ate the Bread of Life, but he had no intention of following Jesus. His heart wasn’t clothed in the right “garment.”

We face this question every Sunday: “Have I come to the Eucharistic feast with my heart properly dressed? Or have I come without thinking about how eating the Bread of Life is meant to help me change my heart?” Coming properly dressed means being open to Jesus’ grace and blessing. Coming without our garment may not mean being “thrown out” as the man in the parable was, but it could mean losing touch with the power and love at the heart of the Eucharist.

Let’s come to the wedding banquet today with a pliable heart. Let’s tell the Lord that we need his Bread of Life. Let’s enjoy the food that Jesus offers us. Then let’s leave Mass determined to keep our hearts covered all day long in this wonderful garment of salvation, obedience, and purity. Today and every Sunday, let’s remind ourselves that the Mass is a wonderful precursor to the great wedding banquet that will come when Jesus returns in glory. Let’s remember that if we keep our garment on now, we’ll be clothed in Christ at the end!

“Thank you, Jesus, for inviting me to your banquet. Help me to follow you.”