Catechism Links[1]
CCC 543-546: Jesus invites sinners,
but demands conversion
CCC 1402-1405,
2837: The Eucharist is the foretaste of the Messianic Banquet
.jpg) |
“Supper in the House of Simon Pharisee”
by Moretto da Brescia, 1550-54 |
Readings
for the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time [2]
Readings
from the Jerusalem Bible [3]
Readings and Commentary [4]
Reading 1: Isaiah 25:6-10a
On this mountain the LORD of hosts
will provide for all peoples
A feast of rich food and choice wines,
juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.
On this mountain he will destroy
the veil that veils all peoples,
The web that is woven over all nations;
he will destroy death forever.
The Lord GOD will wipe away
the tears from all faces;
The reproach of his people he will remove
from the whole earth; for the Lord has spoken.
On that day it will be said:
“Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!
This is the LORD for whom we looked;
let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!”
For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.
-------------------------------------------
Commentary on
Isaiah
25:6-10a
Isaiah once more
envisions the messianic kingdom where there is no enmity between peoples, there
is no want, and the whole world rejoices in great peace. This reading is
favored at funeral liturgies because of its image of the heavenly kingdom.
There is a clear sense of anticipation, appropriate for the Advent season as
the second coming is looked for as well as the Lord’s nativity.
The prophet has, in the
previous chapter, started a discourse about the apocalypse, predicting the
destruction of Israel. In this hymn, he envisions the salvation God will
provide for the faithful. The imagery of the Lord’s banquet used in this psalm,
coupled with clear references to the messianic promises (“he will destroy
death forever") and the idea that God will come in the end with
salvation, will be remembered later at the Last Supper (see Matthew
26:29, Mark
14:25, and Luke
22:18). The eternal nature of the invitation to participate in this banquet is
clear as is the universal nature of the call (“the Lord of hosts will
provide for all peoples”).
-------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
R. (6cd) I shall live in
the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
-------------------------------------------
Commentary on Psalm
23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
Psalm 23 is one of the most familiar songs in the entire psalter.
“God's loving care for the psalmist is portrayed under the figures of a
shepherd for the flock (Psalm
23:1-4) and a host's generosity toward a guest (Psalm 23:5-6). The
imagery of both sections is drawn from traditions of the exodus (Isaiah 40:11; 49:10; Jeremiah 31:10).” [5]
While the theme of shepherd is mentioned in the first strophe, the psalm really
speaks to the peace given to those who follow the Lord and place their trust in
Him, even into the “dark valley.”
The reference in the third strophe above: “'You spread the
table before me in the sight of my foes' occurs in an exodus context
in Psalm 78:19. As my
enemies watch: my enemies see that I am God's friend and guest. Oil: a perfumed
ointment made from olive oil, used especially at banquets (Psalm 104:15; Matthew 26:7; Luke 7:37, 46; John 12:2).” [6]
CCC:
Ps 23:5 1293
-------------------------------------------
Reading II: Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20
I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances;
I know also how to live with abundance.
In every circumstance and in all things
I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry,
of living in abundance and of being in need.
I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.
Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.
My God will fully supply whatever you need,
in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
To our God and Father, glory forever and ever. Amen.
-------------------------------------------
Commentary on
Phil
4:12-14, 19-20
St. Paul has received financial aid from the Philippians (see Philippians 2:25). He now
expresses his overwhelming thanks for that gift. This expression of gratitude
is characteristic of the Christian community. The apostle sees this gift as a
sharing in his own tribulations (“my distress,” a reference to the
future deprivations of his apostolic mission).
The final verses of this reading (vv. 19-20) are a solemn doxology
expressing the faith that whatever is needed will be supplied. This latter
refers to needs of the spirit: “in accord with the glorious riches of Christ
Jesus.”
CCC: Phil 4:13 273,
308, 1460
-------------------------------------------
Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14
Jesus again in reply spoke to them (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."
-------------------------------------------
Commentary on
Matthew 22:1-14
St. Matthew’s Gospel
presents us with the parable of the king's wedding feast. Taken with the preceding
parable of the vineyard, in symbolic language, it contains the whole history of
human salvation. In this parable we see the allegory to the salvation Christ
brings in his resurrection. The first
servants sent to invite the guests were the prophets, rejected or misunderstood
by the Jewish leadership. The second servants sent represent Christ himself,
who here predicts his own death at the hands of the people he was sent to
invite.
In the second section,
we see that the feast that was prepared for God’s chosen people, the Hebrew
nation who were first invited, is left unattended. Therefore, God’s mercy is
extended to all people of all nations. There is a warning at the end. Those not
clothed in Christ who attempt to enter by deception will be punished severely.
This caution can be seen in two connotations. First, those not properly
disposed to participate in the wedding feast, recreated in the Eucharistic
sacrifice, commit a serious sin. It also can be seen as the rationale for purgatory
since the process of purification dresses the faithful for the eternal banquet
in heaven.
CCC: Mt 22:1-14 546,
796
-------------------------------------------
OR
Shorter Form: Matthew 22:1-10
Jesus again in reply
spoke to them (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."
-------------------------------------------
Commentary on Matthew
22:1-10
With the omission of the
caution to those who attempt to enter the heavenly banquet through deception,
this shorter form places a stronger emphasis on the broadened invitation
expressed in the story. When those first invited (the Hebrews) rejected
Christ’s invitation to revelation, his message was expanded to include all
peoples. The joined imagery of the banquet and the invitation recall that
similar invitation extended in Isaiah
25:6-10a.
CCC: Mt 22:1-14 546,
796
-------------------------------------------
Reflection:
There
is an old saying (probably a corollary to “Murphy’s Law”) that says: “If you
can keep your head while all those about you are losing theirs, you’ve probably
misjudged the situation.”
If
we started these remarks by saying what wonderful news we are given today, many
would likely think me to be either a complete recluse, or a person who did not
have a clue about what is happening in the world. Well, we do start with the statement – what
glorious news we are given. And yes, the
events in the world in the past weeks have impacted everyone, either directly
or indirectly as a result of the human conflict impacting us.
It
was noted in the Wall Street Journal some time back when the “Great Recession”
began that churches in the area of Wall Street had seen a marked increase in
attendance. This trend points out what
many have seen in the past. When forces over which we have no control begin to
impact our lives, one of the first responses of those who have been given even
a small amount of faith in God is to take refuge and comfort with him.
So
we come together as we always do, in some cases virtually, to give thanks to
the Lord who opens his arms to us. To
those of us familiar with the ways of the Lord, we can instantly turn our own
fears about the world situation into peace as we recall that we do not walk
alone in these troubled times. We have
been reassured time and again. This day
was not the first time we heard those words:
“Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage.”
It
is especially at these times of shared distress that we, the people of faith,
are called to be heralds of the “Good News.”
When we go back into the world, what would Jesus have us share with our
friends, our co-workers, and our colleagues?
Would he have us panic with them, fearfully expressing dread for the
future? Or rather would he not look to
us to extend his invitation to those who had not been invited, or to remind
those who had that the invitation they had previously received was still open.
When
Jesus told the parable about the King's Wedding Feast, he was speaking
specifically to the scribes, the Pharisees, and other Jewish leaders who had
rejected him and the message he brought.
He told them with his story that, if they who were the first to hear the
invitation God extended rejected that invitation, they would later come to
regret it. That invitation, as the prophet
Isaiah also said, was extended to all peoples.
While
all are invited, however, there is a requirement. We must truly accept God’s Son and the
promise he brings. To give lip service,
to be disingenuous about our acceptance of his promise and the necessary values
embodied in it, constitutes a person not properly dressed for the feast (as
analogized in the parable). According to
the parable, a person in such a state would not receive the true benefit being
offered. A spiritual gift cannot be
pretended.
But
for those of us with genuine faith in Christ, the benefits of our unity at the
banquet of the Lord cannot be underestimated.
St.
Paul, who is always practical about such things, even as he expresses his
gratitude to the Philippians for sending him financial aid, reminds them and us
that:
“God
will fully supply whatever you need,
in
accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
What
we need most right now is exactly what Christ offers: his peace and love which
calms our fears. It is through the
knowledge that because we have accepted his invitation, because we are here to
share in his banquet, set once more before us, we find that when difficulty is
shared with God, our confidence in his salvation is restored and we can
confidently go about the important work set before us. In accepting our own apostolic role, we bring
the peace of Christ to others.
Does
our acceptance of the role as examples of faith, and the fact that we are at
peace with the knowledge that God’s salvation is there for us, guarantee we
will be met with acceptance by others? We go back to the corollary with which we
began. People will probably think we have misjudged the situation. But rejection should not dissuade us. Our example of peace and assurance in the
face of difficulty will have its impact, and in that impact those about us will
see only God’s great mercy and consolation for it is his invitation and his
great gift we bring.
Pax
In
other years on this date: Memorial
of Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
[1]
Catechism links are taken from the
Homiletic Directory, published by the Congregation for
Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 29 June 2014.
[2]
The picture used today is “Supper in the House of Simon Pharisee” by Moretto da
Brescia, 1550-54.
[3]
S.S. Commemoratio[4]
The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the
psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for
English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is
for private use only.
[5]
NAB footnote on
Ps 23: 1.[6]
Ibid.
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment