TWENTY-EIGHTH ORDINARY SUNDAY, October 15, 2023
(Isaiah 25:6-10; Philippians 4:12-14,19-20; Matthew 22:1-14)
In recent Sundays we have seen Jesus arguing with the elders
and high priests of Jerusalem. He had entered the city to deliver himself up
for our salvation. When he taught in the Temple area the Jewish leaders
questioned his authority. But Jesus, more astute than all, turned the tables on
them with three parables. We heard the first, “the two sons,” two weeks ago and
the second, “the murderous vineyard workers,” last Sunday. Today we are
presented with the third, “the royal wedding banquet”.
Like the other two parables, “the royal wedding banquet”
demonstrates the Jews' failure to obey God's will. Therefore, it points out,
the Lord will take his kingdom out of his hands to give it to the Greeks. In
the last half of the first century the Greeks accepted the gospel in large
numbers while few Jews recognized Christ. The banquet itself is a symbol of
heaven at the end of time as seen in the first reading from the prophet Isaiah.
The Greeks are those who come from the “crossroads” to attend the banquet. But,
like any random group, they are both “bad and good…” The good belong there.
They dress in appropriate clothing. But the bad guy, who doesn't wear a party
dress, shouldn't have been admitted.
The removal of this man has upset many over the centuries.
They ask, “How can the poor man be thrown out of the banquet for not having the
proper dress?” It seemed to them that there was a lack of mercy on the part of
the host. However, the issue is not the lack of resources to buy proper
clothing. It is to refuse to wear available clothing. One can imagine that
party dresses were available at the entrance to the banquet just as in the
great basilicas of Rome today light cloaks are offered to ladies entering with
bare shoulders. In any case, the important thing is not how the guest could get
party clothing but what the clothing means.
In his Letter to the Romans, Saint Paul advises his readers:
“Put on the Lord Jesus Christ…” (13:14). He evidently means that they should
act like Jesus by showing charity to everyone. The Letter to the Colossians is
more detailed. It says: “… put on then, as God’s chosen ones,… heartfelt
compassion, kindness, humility gentleness, and patience…” (3:14). The festive
dress signifies works of mercy that serve as vehicles to enter heaven. Later in
this Gospel according to Saint Matthew Jesus will say that when he comes to
judge the living and the dead, he will call to the Kingdom of his Father those
who gave food and drink to the hungry and the thirsty, welcomed the stranger, clothed
the naked, and visited the sick man and the prisoner (25,35-40).
In the search for pleasures and comfort, many today are
unaware of the needs of others. Unfortunately, some who go to church are
included in this number. They would rather ignore the exhortations of Jesus
that they hear Sunday after Sunday than make a regular effort for those in
need. Somehow we have to wake them up to the call of Jesus.
In a city where violent crime has exploded in recent years,
a retired couple has definitely put on Christ. The couple volunteers in a
program that helps public school children read. It is one part of what must be
a coordinated effort to solve a huge social problem. Couples need to show
concern for their children by maintaining faithful and mutually supportive
marriages. Employers have to pay salaries that value work well done. And
governments have to foster prosperity for all while maintaining order.
The responsibility for a just society does not depend only
on the government or some good people. Jesus involves us all in the company. We
Catholics must be the first to enlist in the effort. We have chosen him as
Lord. Through works of charity we anticipate the salvation that he won for us.
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