The Banquet of the Lord

 Reflection on Today's Readings,28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, October 11th, 2020

Texts: Is. 25:6-10a; Ps. 23:1-6; Phil. 4:12-14.19-20; Matt. 22:1-14

Today, we hear the invitation to the banquet of the Lord. The banquet, here, is not about the food and the drinks, but the atmosphere it generates: the atmosphere of love, peace, joy, happiness, communion and unity. The banquet expresses the state of the kingdom of God. Hence, St. Paul says, "For God's Kingdom is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of the righteousness, peace, and joy which the Holy Spirit gives" (Rom. 14:17).

Today's gospel reading speaks of those who rejected the invitation to the banquet; they were not worthy. They were concerned about worldly affairs and made light the matters of the kingdom of God; some of them were against the kingdom and so maltreated the servants and killed them. Jesus Christ says, "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." The wicked were paid in their own coins; they were destroyed and their city burned.

The rejection of God's kingdom by some people does not stop its realization; the invitation is extended to other peoples who will accept it. Jesus says, "Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the streets, and invite to the marriage feast as many as you find.'"  Nothing can stop the realization of the kingdom of God; it must come to reality. Whoever refuse to heed the call, do so at his own peril, while those who do so, do so for their own good.

The kingdom of God is not just for anybody, it is for those who have the garments and put them on. Jesus says, "But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment; and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth'." This recalls the words of Isaiah: "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness" (61:10).  God clothes us with the garment of salvation and robes us with righteousness through our faith in Jesus Christ, his Son. St. Paul says, "If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised him from death, you will be saved. For it is by our faith that we are put right with God; it is by our confession that we are saved" (Rom. 20:9-10). The salvation, here, is being saved from sins. We need righteousness and God's salvation to participate in the kingdom of God. We must put on Christ and become new creations..

The first reading tells us that the banquet will take place on a mountain. The mountain is the dwelling place of God, a place where God dwells among his people. The first reading also reminds us that the banquet is the initiative of God; it is God who takes the initiative and invites us. He sets the rules and regulations for the banquet. For those of us who heed the call we are to live by his rules and regulations. This brings to mind the words of Jesus: "You did not choose me; I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit, the kind of fruit that endures. And so the Father will give you whatever you ask of him in my name. This, then, is what I command you: love one another" (John 14:16-17).

In the kingdom of God ignorance will be banished, and so it is said, "And he will destroy on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations.

In the kingdom of God death will be swallowed up forever. This means the triumph of righteousness, for death came as a result of sin. Death will be no more when it is cut off at its root, which is sin.  When righteousness prevails, then we gain eternal life and conquer death forever.

In the kingdom of God, tears will be wiped from all faces and reproach removed. God will remove causes of tears: pains, suffering, afflictions, loss, diseases, etc. The reproach is about shame and disgrace; it will be removed. The reproach, here, is the exile, which brought shame, disgrace and mockery to the people. They were mocked that their God had abandoned them. It is a disgrace and a shame because the exile seemed to be that their God had been conquered. God shall prove himself once again; he will show that he has not abandoned his people and that he is not conquered. The salvation of God shall be the cause of their joy and happiness. Hence, it is said, "Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord;  we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation."

Today's second reading introduces the theme of love and communion. The communion with Jesus Christ, who becomes our strength; he supplies strength to bear the challenges of life. Communion with one another, whereby we share one another's trouble and concerns.

Dear friends, as Christians we have heeded the invitation to attend the banquet, by baptism, the sacrament of faith, we have been made righteousness, but we need to live the faith to be saved and have eternal life. 

God our Father, out of love you have invited us to your banquet, make us worthy to participate in the banquet. Amen.

Rev. Fr. Andrew Olowomuke