Fr Gerry O'Shaunessy SDB reflects the Gospel for 28th Sunday of the year, with its call to fully take up the Lord's invitation to join him at the wedding feast. (Matthew 22: 1 - 14) (Photo: Source Unknown)

In our Gospel today, Jesus once again is speaking to the leaders of his people-these wonderful teachings apply as much today as they did in their original context. When the Old Testament prophets wanted to speak of the day when God's reign would finally come in its fullness, they depicted a great feast. As we see in the first reading today, the great poet and prophet Isaiah spoke of a coming day when Yahweh will prepare "a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines" (Isa 25:6) That is the day when all that is that is wrong is made right and all that is broken is made whole, there's going to be one extravagant and glorious meal.

In the Gospel, Jesus reminds the spiritual leaders of his time of how history has treated the prophets of old—we find no archaeological remains of 'homes for retired prophets'! Jesus places his story in the context of the wedding supper that observant Jews would recognise in the gathering for Tobias and Sarah (Tob 7:14): it is the time of 'mazel tov' so gloriously depicted in the musical 'Fiddler on the Roof'. The community of Jesus saw the marriage feast as so sacred that they would move houses to attend . While some cultures see the wedding celebration as an intensely personal and private affair, I come from a tradition that sees weddings as something that family and friends share fully in the joy of the newly married couple. A day and night of feasting, dancing, story-telling and fun.

Covid-19 has changed the way we are forced to celebrate marriage-a huge gathering in a packed room, belting out 'Is this the Way to Amarillo?' becomes a 'super spreader'. Joy brings death! Thus we need to view the parable as that sign of the ultimate new and eternal 'normal' that we will share together in the reign of God. Perhaps those initial invited guests in the parable remind us of the reality of today: the Jewish leaders, who should know better, refuse to attend-they do not want to be open to that love and generosity of God, choosing to cocoon themselves away in their own 'busyness.' He compares the reluctant wedding guests to the history of Israel. God chose the descendants of Abraham to inherit His Kingdom on earth. He sent deliverers to turn the hearts of His people back to Him after they had fallen away. But the Israelites had turned away from Him to worship other gods and follow other paths.

Jesus offers the feast to all in a typical and honest open invitation: Jesus tells these self-righteous leaders that the reign of God is open to ALL. Jesus reaches out to those on the margins-those that these very leaders despise and reject. Everyone is welcome to the feast and wedding garments are provided, 'free, gratis and for nothing'

The ending of the parable has always struck me as hard and harsh: the one who has not put on the wedding garment is rejected. The thought of rejection by God is hard to accept, especially in the context of unconditional generosity. We all have those special clothes that we wear on those important occasions in life from the family heirloom that is the baptismal robe, used by generations of infants in your family to the wedding dress worn at this very feast. The type of clothes we wear mark out just how special a day can be and how we respect that day. In this parable, one invited guest chooses not to accept that generosity and reject that love freely given by God. In the parable, punishment is swift and final. The one who came to the feast without a wedding garment perhaps represents the condition of some in our Church today. They might claim to be Christians, and lay claim to the blessings and privileges of the gospel; yet they feel no need of a transformation in their lives: they do not want to feed the hungry, visit the sick and assist the prisoner. When we do return to normal look at the ones who turn up at the end of an event to sweep the floor and take out the rubbish; look at the ones who have been helping at the food bank or operating the phone lines, ensuring friendship and care to the lonely. Then look at those just 'watching' and standing on the sidelines refusing to be involved. They probably have never felt true repentance for sin. They might 'talk the talk' very well but finding 'walking' it much more difficult. They are the 'spiritual narcissists' that we need to avoid because in the end it is only about themselves and 'their' needs. They have no need of the wedding garment and can do exactly what they want because they 'know their rights!' While it is true that each of us have our RIGHTS but with these very rights come RESPONSIBILITIES. We have a responsibility for the common good and not just our own selfish needs. In the parable, the rejected guest is like those people who sadly do not realize their need of Christ or exercise true faith in Him.

The wedding feast is offered to all and today we are once again invited to share as fully as we can, in these difficult days, in the Eucharist. A Eucharist that is inclusive and will welcome you HOME today. In the parable, God offers you hospitality, so can you open your hearts today to share that sacred hospitality with family, friends and strangers during this coming week. Christine Pohl has observed,

"A shared meal is the activity most closely tied to the reality of God's kingdom, just as it is the most basic expression of hospitality."

As we wait for the world to navigate the complexity of the world that is our reality in these difficult days, the church's life will be nurtured and sustained as we recover the beauty and strength of true and authentic table fellowship.

Fr Gerry O'Shaughnessy SDB