Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk Twenty Eight Sunday of the Year, A – October 11, 2020
Readings: Isaiah 25:6-10; Responsorial Psalm Ps 22:1-6; Phil 4:12-14,19-20 & Gospel Matthew 22:1-14.
Theme: Of the Wedding Garment!
Sunday Synopsis
In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah assures that at the wedding feast of the lamb, the Lord would destroy death forever and wipe away his people’s shame. In the second reading, St. Paul urges us to endure full stomach or empty stomach in our discipleship towards heaven while assuring that we can master everything with the help of the one who strengthens us. Jesus’ story of the wedding feast reminds us to weave our wedding garments of integrity and holiness now even as we relish the Holy Eucharist, a foretaste of the eschatological banquet.
Introduction
Friends in Christ, today, integrity and holiness are presented as prerequisites for attending the wedding feast of the lamb. Titled “Of the Wedding Garment,” our liturgy invites us to weave our wedding garments now. It suggests that the celebration of the Holy Eucharist remains the best tailoring institute for acquiring the requisite skills for the eternal journey.
Background and Summary of the Readings
In the first reading (Isaiah 25:6-10), the prophet Isaiah assures that the wedding feast of the lamb would take place on a mountain. The reading suggests that that mountain is the New Jerusalem where Isaiah assures that the Lord would destroy death forever. What is more, tears, mourning and shame would be replaced by exultant praise and the gift of everlasting life.
Weaving the wedding garment requires endurance and patience. This is the more reason why like in the second reading (Phil 4:12-14,19-20), St. Paul urges us to endure full stomach or empty stomach in our discipleship towards heaven. He assures that we can master everything with the help of the one who strengthens us.
The “window parable” of the wedding feast which Jesus presents in the gospel (Matthew 22:1-14) reveals what happens before, during and after a typical wedding. The crucial points of the text are: The wedding invitation is open to all, wearing a wedding apparel is a must, failure to be washed in the blood of the lamb attracts punishment and the fact that we should ensure we are among the VIPs who must not forget to wear their sparkling uniform.
Jesus is the story teller and the chief priests and elders of the people are the audience. The king is God while the king’s servants are the prophets. The first people who refused to turn up for the wedding are the chief priests, elders of the people and the Israelites; the banquet is the Old Passover which is a prelude to the New and Everlasting Covenant which Christ enacted with his blood thus giving us the Holy Eucharist; reasons of not turning up at the banquet include apathy mundane interests and sheer wickedness. The second people who honoured the invitation are Gentile nations. The man without the wedding clothe represents all those who lack integrity and holiness. The wedding feast is at the end of time.
Weaving the wedding garment requires endurance and patience. This is the more reason why like in the second reading (Phil 4:12-14,19-20), St. Paul urges us to endure full stomach or empty stomach in our discipleship towards heaven. He assures that we can master everything with the help of the one who strengthens us.
The “window parable” of the wedding feast which Jesus presents in the gospel (Matthew 22:1-14) reveals what happens before, during and after a typical wedding. The crucial points of the text are: The wedding invitation is open to all, wearing a wedding apparel is a must, failure to be washed in the blood of the lamb attracts punishment and the fact that we should ensure we are among the VIPs who must not forget to wear their sparkling uniform.
Jesus is the story teller and the chief priests and elders of the people are the audience. The king is God while the king’s servants are the prophets. The first people who refused to turn up for the wedding are the chief priests, elders of the people and the Israelites; the banquet is the Old Passover which is a prelude to the New and Everlasting Covenant which Christ enacted with his blood thus giving us the Holy Eucharist; reasons of not turning up at the banquet include apathy mundane interests and sheer wickedness. The second people who honoured the invitation are Gentile nations. The man without the wedding clothe represents all those who lack integrity and holiness. The wedding feast is at the end of time.
Pastoral Lessons
1. Embrace the Eucharist as a Foretaste of the Wedding Feast: Since the new banquet prefigured by the celebration of the Holy Eucharist here on earth provides us with a glimpse of what would happen at the wedding feast of the lamb where tears, mourning and shame would be replaced by exultant praise and the gift of everlasting life, we are urged to embrace the celebration of Holy Mass with our whole lives.
2. You are a VIP at the Lord’s Feast: Considering the person who sends the invitation, the kind of high-profile wedding that it is and what is spent, failing to show up smacks of disrespect and ingratitude for failing to show up at a feast in which you are a Very Important Personality (VIP).
3. Do Not Ignore Contemporary Prophets: The way priests and those who speak truth to power are hated, maligned and destroyed demonstrates that we too are guilty of either ignoring or killing the king’s servants, contemporary prophets who challenge our ungodly ways.
4. Don’t be too Busy to Ignore the Gospel: Rather than oblige Jesus, like the people who made excuses in Jesus’ parable, many of us are too busy with our “farms” and “businesses” such as building a career, amassing wealth or getting involved in dirty politics.
5. Weave Your Garment of Integrity and Holiness Now: The invitation to the wedding feast is free but without the wedding garment of integrity and holiness, we would be thrown out which shows that, the best tailoring institute for acquiring the requisite skills for the eternal journey is the Holy Eucharist.
6. Prepare for Judgment: Since we are the contemporary chief priests and elders of the people whom Jesus addresses this parable to, we are urged to prepare for the final judgement by taking to the Corporal Works of Mercy namely, feeding the hungry, giving water to the thirsty, clothing the naked, welcoming the stranger, healing the sick, visiting the imprisoned, and burying the dead (Cf. Is 58:6, 7).
Summary Lines
1. In the first reading (Isaiah 25:6-10), the prophet Isaiah assures that the wedding feast of the lamb would take place on a mountain.
2. In the second reading (Phil 4:12-14,19-20) St. Paul urges us to endure full stomach or empty stomach in our discipleship towards heaven.
3. He assures that we can master everything with the help of the one who strengthens us.
4. The “window parable” of the wedding feast which Jesus presents in the gospel (Matthew 22:1-14) reveals what happens before, during and after a typical wedding.
5. The wedding invitation is open to all, wearing a wedding apparel is a must, failure to be washed in the blood of the lamb attracts punishment…
2. In the second reading (Phil 4:12-14,19-20) St. Paul urges us to endure full stomach or empty stomach in our discipleship towards heaven.
3. He assures that we can master everything with the help of the one who strengthens us.
4. The “window parable” of the wedding feast which Jesus presents in the gospel (Matthew 22:1-14) reveals what happens before, during and after a typical wedding.
5. The wedding invitation is open to all, wearing a wedding apparel is a must, failure to be washed in the blood of the lamb attracts punishment…
Conclusion
Today’s liturgy teaches us about God’s kingdom and the importance of being part of the wedding feast of the lamb. It reminds us that while those who were first invited misbehaved, Gentile nations became beneficiaries of the lavish party. However, it draws attention to the essential requirements of integrity and holiness as meal ticket. May our endurance win us our lives even as we take up to the corporal works of mercy having been empowered by the Holy Eucharist. May God help us to weave our garments in truth and in love. Amen. Have a terrific week ahead!
