God Invites Us to a Joyous Banquet

10-15-2023Weekly ReflectionFr. Anthony Okolo, C.S.Sp, V.F.

The story of a marriage feast was not something new. It was also frequently used in the Old Testament. A splendid feast or banquet is a good symbol of joy and happiness, as well as mutual union and love. Even in our own experience we can recall a special dinner at Thanksgiving or Christmas at which everyone enjoys not only the fine food and drink but also the conversation and the feeling of friendship and love. As Jesus told the parable in today’s gospel, the king made elaborate preparations for the dinner and then sent out invitations. To the amazement of the king, some ignored the invitation and went off to attend to business and personal affairs. To the absolute indignation of the king, others rose in rebellion against him and murdered his servants.

Jesus told the parable as a warning to the people of His time and as an indication to us that we too have received an invitation for we are the people who were later called to the banquet. Thus, the parable reminds us that the invitation of God is to a feast as joyous as a wedding feast. Those of us at Mass have not ignored this invitation, or we would not be in this church today. But many in our parish community ignore the invitation to the feast of the Mass Sunday after Sunday. One outstanding thing we get from the parable is that the people who are deaf to the invitation of Jesus most often are not necessarily bad in themselves. One person went to his estate, the other to his business. They did not go off on a wild carousal. They went off to an excellent task of efficiently administering their business. In the same way, many find it difficult to attend Mass on Sunday after Sunday because of business or work, visiting family members. Jesus is telling us in today’s reading to make more effort in coming to the feast of the Mass He prepares for us every Sunday as He wants to dine with us at the Mass.

However, it is good to mention that the finest expression of our faith in Heaven can be made right here in the Mass. In the Mass, God our father calls us together in His home, the church. Here Christ speaks to us, and He does so in the readings, gospels, and the sermons. He also wants us to speak to Him and we do so through the prayers of the Mass. We even bring some of the goods that are used in the dinner, such as the procession with bread and wine to the altar. The climax to our celebration God calls us to His banquet table is when all share in the spiritual food of holy communion. Heaven is God’s eternal home, where He wants to have a great big family celebration, and everlasting banquet of joy and happiness. We have been invited. Do not make the mistake of refusing His invitation.

The end the parable tells us that most often it is very easy for people to become so busy with the things of this world that they forget the things of eternity or to be so preoccupied with things of their own affairs giving less attention to the things of God. May we never lose sight to hear the soft invitation of the voice of Jesus to this invitation to dine with Jesus in the Mass.

Fr. Tony Okolo C.S.Sp., V.F.