Thursday, XX Week of Ordinary Time
(Judges 11 and Matthew 22)
Both the reading from the Book of Judges and the one from the Matthew’s gospel are so dispiriting that they require critical explanation. Many people find throwing a person out of a wedding reception simply because he lacks the expected clothing as outrageous. Human sacrifice is, of course, abominable in itself. What do scholars say about these biblical stories?
Human sacrifice is prohibited in the Covenant Law. It was probably practiced among the early Israelites because they associated with pagan peoples. The fact that the biblical writer makes no attempt to describe the sacrifice indicates his disproval. However, he sees as laudable Jephthah’s keeping his vow to God even though it means the death of his daughter and the end of his bloodline. Likewise, the writer understands the maiden’s willingness to accommodate her father’s vow to God even at the cost of her life as praiseworthy. The Virgin Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel in Luke’s Gospel echoes the maiden’s words, “’Do with me as you have vowed.’”
This gospel parable is intended as an allegory. Every element of it has a counterpart in the story of our salvation. For example, the people who refuse to come to the banquet should be taken as the Jews, the original Chosen People. Those who finally attend the banquet need to have responded to God’s invitation by making some preparations. They cannot participate if all that they have done is show up for the event. No, they need to have dressed themselves in good deeds which are symbolized by the wedding garment.
