Twenty Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings for the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible

Readings[3] and Commentary

Reading 1: Isaiah 25:6-10a

On this mountain the LORD of hosts
will provide for all peoples
a feast of rich food and choice wines,
juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.
On this mountain he will destroy
the veil that veils all peoples,
the web that is woven over all nations;
he will destroy death forever.
The Lord GOD will wipe away
the tears from every face;
the reproach of his people he will remove
from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.
On that day it will be said:
"Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!
This is the LORD for whom we looked;
let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!"
For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.
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Commentary on Isaiah 25:6-10a

The Prophet Isaiah has, in the previous chapter started a discourse about the apocalypse, predicting the destruction of Israel. In this hymn he now envisions the salvation God will provide for the faithful. The imagery used in this psalm, the Lord’s banquet, coupled with clear references to the messianic promises (“…he will destroy death forever.”) and the idea that God will come in the end with salvation will be remembered later at the Last Supper (see Matthew 26:29, Mark 14:25, and Luke 22:18).

Used in conjunction with the parable below from St. Matthew’s Gospel, the eternal nature of the invitation to participate in this banquet becomes clear as is the universal nature of the call. (“…the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples.”)
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

R. (6cd) I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.
In green pastures you let me graze; to safe waters you lead me;
you restore my strength
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
You guide me along the right path for the sake of your name.
Even when I walk through a dark valley,
I fear no harm for you are at my side;
your rod and staff give me courage.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
You set a table before me as my enemies watch;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
Only goodness and love will pursue me
all the days of my life;
I will dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
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Commentary on Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

Psalm 23 is one of the most familiar in the entire Psalter. “God's loving care for the psalmist is portrayed under the figures of a shepherd for the flock (Psalm 23:1-4) and a host's generosity toward a guest (Psalm 23:5-6). The imagery of both sections is drawn from traditions of the exodus (Isaiah 40:11; 49:10; Jeremiah 31:10).”[4]
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Reading II: Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20

I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances;
I know also how to live with abundance.
In every circumstance and in all things
I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry,
of living in abundance and of being in need.
I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.
Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.

My God will fully supply whatever you need,
in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
To our God and Father, glory forever and ever. Amen.
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Commentary on Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20

St. Paul has received financial aid from the Philippians (see Philippians 2:25). He now expresses his overwhelming thanks for that gift. This expression of gratitude is characteristic of the Christian community and the apostle sees this gift as a sharing in his own tribulations (“…my distress.” A reference to his the future deprivations of his apostolic mission.).

The final verses of this reading are a solemn doxology expressing the faith that whatever is needed will be supplied. This latter refers to needs of the spirit “in accord with the glorious riches of Christ Jesus.”

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Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14

Jesus again in reply spoke to them (the chief priests and elders of the people)
in parables, saying,
"The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who gave a wedding feast for his son.
He dispatched his servants
to summon the invited guests to the feast,
but they refused to come.
A second time he sent other servants, saying,
‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet,
my calves and fattened cattle are killed,
and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’
Some ignored the invitation and went away,
one to his farm, another to his business.
The rest laid hold of his servants,
mistreated them, and killed them.
The king was enraged and sent his troops,
destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready,
but those who were invited were not worthy to come.
Go out, therefore, into the main roads
and invite to the feast whomever you find.’
The servants went out into the streets
and gathered all they found, bad and good alike,
and the hall was filled with guests.
But when the king came in to meet the guests,
he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment.
The king said to him, 'My friend, how is it
that you came in here without a wedding garment?'
But he was reduced to silence.
Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet,
and cast him into the darkness outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’
Many are invited, but few are chosen."
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Commentary on Matthew 22:1-14

St. Matthew’s Gospel presents us with the parable of the King's Wedding Feast. The reference to the first servants sent to invite the guests were the Prophets, rejected or misunderstood by the Jewish Leadership. The second servants sent represent Christ Himself who here predicts his own death at the hands of the people he was sent to invite.

In the second section, we see the feast that was prepared for God’s chosen people, the Hebrew Nation, those first invited, is left unattended. Therefore God’s mercy is extended to all people of all nations. There is a warning at the end. Those not clothed in Christ who attempt to enter by deception will be punished severely.

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Or: Matthew 22:1-10

Jesus again in reply spoke to them (the chief priests and elders of the people)
in parables, saying,
"The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who gave a wedding feast for his son.
He dispatched his servants
to summon the invited guests to the feast,
but they refused to come.
A second time he sent other servants, saying,
'Tell those invited: "Behold, I have prepared my banquet,
my calves and fattened cattle are killed,
and everything is ready; come to the feast."’
Some ignored the invitation and went away,
one to his farm, another to his business.
The rest laid hold of his servants,
mistreated them, and killed them.
The king was enraged and sent his troops,
destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready,
but those who were invited were not worthy to come.
Go out, therefore, into the main roads
and invite to the feast whomever you find.’
The servants went out into the streets
and gathered all they found, bad and good alike,
and the hall was filled with guests."
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Commentary on Matthew 22:1-10

With the omission of the caution to those who attempt to enter the heavenly banquet through deception, this shorter form places a stronger emphasis on the broadened invitation expressed in the story. When those first invited (the Hebrews) rejected Christ’s invitation to revelation, his message was expanded to include all peoples. The joined imagery of the banquet and the invitation recall that similar invitation extended in Isaiah 25:6-10a.

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Homily

There is an old saying, (probably a corollary to “Murphy’s Law) that says; “If you can keep your head while all those about you are loosing theirs, you’ve probably misjudged the situation.”

If we started these remarks by saying what wonderful news we are given today, many would likely think me to be either a complete recluse or a person who did not have a retirement plan heavily invested in the stock market. Well, we do start with that statement – what glorious news we are given. And yes, the events in the world financial markets in the past two weeks have impacted everyone, either directly through their own investments or will indirectly due to the economic slow down that is occurring as a result of tightened credit markets.

It was noted in the Wall Street Journal two weeks ago that churches in the area of Wall Street had seen a marked increase in attendance. This trend points out what many of have seen in the past, when forces over which we have no control begin to impact our lives, one of the first responses of those who have been given even a small about of faith in God take refuge and comfort with him.

Yet we come together as we always do to give thanks to the Lord who opens his arms to us. To those of us familiar with the ways of the Lord, we can instantly turn our own fears about the world situation into peace as we recall that we do not walk alone in these troubled times. We have been reassured time and again. This day was not the first time we heard those words

“Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage.”

It is especially at these times of shared distress that we, the people of faith are called to be heralds of the “good new”. When we go back into the world, what would Jesus have us share with our friends, our co-workers, and our colleagues? Would he have us panic with them; fearfully expressing dread for the future? Or rather would he not look to us to extend his invitation to those who had not been invited or to remind those who had that the invitation was still open.

When Jesus told the parable about the King's Wedding Feast, he was speaking specifically to the Scribes, the Pharisees, and other Jewish leaders who had rejected him and the message he brought. He told them with his story that if they, who were the first to hear the invitation God extended, rejected that invitation, they would later come to regret it. That invitation, as the Prophet Isaiah also said, was extended to all peoples.

While all are invited, however, there is a requirement. We must truly accept God’s Son and the promise he brings. To give lip service, to be disingenuous about our acceptance of his promise and the necessary values embodied in it constitutes a person not properly dressed for the feast. A person in such a state would not receive the true benefit being offered. A spiritual gift cannot be pretended.

But for those of us with genuine faith in Christ, the benefits of our unity at the banquet of the Lord cannot be underestimated.

St. Paul, who is always practical about such things, even as he expresses his gratitude to the Philippians for sending him financial aid, reminds them and us that:

“God will fully supply whatever you need,
in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

What we need most right now is exactly what Christ offers, his peace and love which calms our fears. It is through the knowledge that because we have accepted his invitation; because we are here to share in his banquet, set once more before us, that we find that when difficulty is shared with God, our confidence in his salvation is resorted and we can confidently go about the important work set before us. In doing so, in accepting our own apostolic role, we bring that peace of Christ to others.

Does our acceptance of our role as examples of faith, at peace with the knowledge that God’s salvation is there for us will be met with acceptance? We go back to the corollary with which we began; people will probably think we have misjudged the situation. But that rejection should not dissuade us. Our example of peace and assurance in the face of difficulty will have its impact and in that impact those about us will see only God’s great mercy and consolation for it is his invitation and his great gift we bring.

Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture used today is “Banquet at the house of Simon (detail)”, by Bernardo Strozzi, 1630
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Psalm Response is from Printed source United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20017-1194 (202) 541-3000
November 11, 2002 Copyright (c) by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
[4] See NAB footnote on Ps 23: 1