Reflection for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
(Is
25:6-10, Phil 4:12-14.19-20, Mt 22:1-14)
1.0. “On
this Mountain...”
Today the Prophet Isaiah declares the mountain of
salvation. On this mountain, the Lord of hosts will prepare for all peoples an
expensive feast. And there he would remove the
veil spread over all nations. This mountain of celebration is also a platform of salvation, where death would
be destroyed forever, tears wiped away from all faces, and the reproach of
God’s people removed. This is a living mountain where all who come live freely
and happy. It is a mountain of grace. “Let us, then, have no fear in
approaching the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace when we are
in need of help” (Heb 4:16). Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled on Mount Calvary
and is celebrated today in the Eucharist.
2.0. “ ...Come to the marriage feast”
Jesus tells us the parable of the King who organized
an expensive wedding for his son. The king loved his son so much that he
committed so much to celebrate him. And he extended this love and joy to
others, inviting them to participate in the love he has for his son. “But they
would not come.” Imagine such embarrassment! Still he was patient and kind
enough to send more servants, this time with deeper explanation about the
splendour of the party. “But they made light of it and went off, one to his
farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them
shamefully, and killed them.” How can they be causal to what their king takes
seriously? They brought destruction upon themselves...But the king would not
allow his son to hang in shame. New guests were invited, this time peoples from
every corner of the earth, both bad and good. And the hall was full.
So the parable tells about the wedding feast of the
lamb (cf. Rev 19:6-9). It talks about the transfer of the invitation to the
Gentiles, and the marriage of Jesus and the Church—a permanent union, where
Jesus is the Head and the Church His Body (cf. Col 1:18). The gathering of the
Church is a foretaste of the eternal gathering of the children of God in
Heaven. And the Church celebrates Jesus. So Jesus is that living Mountain of
salvation, where are drawn to feast and to be saved.
3.0. The
Wedding Garment
“When the king came in to look at the guests, he saw
there a man who had no wedding garment.” The wedding garment ordinarily
belonged to the Bridegroom and Bride. Now the invited guests are expected to
put on the same garment. We have to put on the resemblance of Christ, such that
God the Father sees the image of His Son in us. Hence, we are grafted into the
wedding feast as His adopted sons and daughters. By choosing us to share in the
love the Father has the Son, we have become a royal people, chosen for His own
possession (1 Pet 2:9).
Thus, wearing the garment means putting on the image
of Christ and the Church—the Bridegroom and the Bride. Though we are sinners
and unworthy of so great a Banquet, we must purify our selves, receive His
forgiveness and imitate Jesus in our daily lives. The Holy Eucharist nourishes
us. We consume Jesus, and must reflect his righteousness in our lives like a
garment. Our actions should showcase what we profess—indicating we have
accepted the invitation to dine at the Royal Banquet. But the one who fails to
put on the wedding garment—who approach this Banquet unprepared—would be
treated like the first invitees who turned against the King (1 Cor 11:28-32).
4.0. “For
many are called, but few are chosen”
Jesus warns us: to receive the invitation is not an
end in itself. It is not enough for one to be a member of the Church or a pious
group. Those who have received the grace to share in the love of the Father in
the Son must back it up with an active live of virtue. Desire for heaven is not
sufficient, our garment, our daily lives must reflect the righteousness of
Jesus and faith of the Church. St Paul gives us a practical step to achieve
this in the second reading.
“...In any and all circumstances I have learned the
secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want.” He gives us example of
a certain level of detachment from material things, such that our motivation is
not determined by what we have or do not have. In this way, whether we have farm or business, we always long to climb the Mountain of salvation. This disposition
of detachment would enable us realize that it is God who supplies our every
need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:12.19).
The external manifestation of
this disposition constitutes a response to the Banquet on this Mountain of grace. And the habitual living out of this
disposition of detachment for the Royal feast becomes a garment in which we
resemble the Bridegroom and the Bride.
These are the chosen few. And they will always be few. Our determination is to
ensure we are among this chosen few.
Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Sacred Heart Catholic Church,
Gwagwalada, Abuja.
Nigeria.
October 15, 2017.
