We are invited to a Banquet and not to a Funeral.

10-15-2017Weekly ReflectionFather Barnabas Duniya

The banquet is the symbol of the happiness and joy present in the kingdom of God. The first reading tells us of a promise; while the gospel tells us of its actualization. If the banquet has already begun with the coming of the Messiah, why do we still have so much hatred, so many wars and deaths all over the world? Yes, the feast has begun, but the kingdom is still awaiting its full attainment.

The second reading is connected with this theme. We are given the example of the community at Philippi where there is authentic love and where a completely new life has really begun; the help and the gifts sent to Paul are proof of this. The prophet Isaiah would say: this banquet is a type of the heavenly banquet and of the Eucharist by which one is nourished with the Body and Blood of Christ.

During Jesus' time, a wedding feast in Palestine was a celebration involving almost the whole village. It was an occasion for renewing friendship, showing generosity and a celebration of the abundance of God's blessings received. Indeed a festive and a happy atmosphere prevailed in the entire village. Thus, Jesus compares the kingdom of God to such a happy occasion.

A wedding feast prepared by a king for his beloved Son would certainly be splendid. It is, therefore, strange that the invited guests refuse to attend the feast. They ignore the king's invitation, preferring to pursue their own plans for travel and work. Some even manifest their ingratitude by killing the king's servants. When the invited guests refuse the invitation, the feast is thrown open to everyone who comes by on the road.

The parable reflects the relationship between God and the Jews, his chosen people, those first to receive his invitation and may well be a reflections of our own personal relationship with Jesus in the sacraments. Christ invites us to enjoy his love, to love him above all things and to be faithful to him. But often we ignore Christ's invitation. Caught up in our selfish interest, we pay little attention to him. We do not even hear the invitation, at times, because we are full of ourselves andGod is of little importance in our life.

As the parable teaches, not paying attention to God is like ignoring his invitation to enjoy God's love and be part of a rejoicing heavenly community. This attitude of indifference, insensitivity and selfishness offends God. There are no exclusions with God's invitation. We all are invited because all are important and created in his likeness and image.

The parable's invited guests symbolize all of humanity, who have heard God's desire that "all people" and "all nations" enter into the wedding feast of Heaven, but who may enter only through confession of their sins. We need to understand the parable's invited guests as including ourselves. Jesus died for his bride, the Church. His invitation is to accept his death, the price of our forgiveness, as the means of union with him. Through this union, Christ invites us into the eternal wedding feast of Heaven.

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