Heavenly banquet

The theme of today’s liturgy centers on God’s universal invitation to the heavenly banquet and our response to His grace.

In the Gospel parable, the initial invitees brush off the king’s summons because they are absorbed daily in their own fields, businesses, and routine distractions. The homily challenges us to ask: What daily worries, self-sufficiency, and trivial pursuits cause us to ignore God’s active invitation in our lives?

The guest cast out for not wearing a wedding garment reminds us that accepting God’s grace requires a true change of heart. The “garment” symbolizes putting on Christ through active faith, forgiveness, patience, and acts of charity toward the poor, lonely, and suffering.

Scripture readings offer us a standing invitation to the everlasting joy of the Heavenly Banquet and a loving warning to stay ready always by constantly wearing the wedding garment, i.e., remaining in a state of grace by avoiding sin and doing good.

By telling an allegorical parable of judgment in the Temple of Jerusalem two days before His arrest, Jesus accuses the Jewish religious and civil leaders of rejecting God’s invitation to the Heavenly Banquet given to them through God’s own Son, Himself.

They have rejected the invitation by not listening to the Good News preached by Jesus and by not reforming their lives. This invitation was repeatedly extended to Israel through the prophets, including John the Baptist.

But the leadership, contemporary with Jesus, rejected the reality that Jesus was the fulfillment of all prophecy, refused to accept God’s invitation to righteous living given through John the Baptist and through Jesus, and planned to kill God’s own Son, Jesus.

Hence, God is inviting the sinners and the Gentiles to His banquet, and that is why Jesus is keeping the company of sinners.

We need to keep wearing the wedding garment of holiness and righteousness, be in a state of grace all the time, do good to everyone, and appreciate and receive God’s graces in the Church:

a) We received the “wedding garment” of sanctifying grace in Baptism, while the other sacraments provide the additional graces we need to retain it.

b) Our participation in the Eucharistic celebration and in personal and family prayers helps to recharge our spiritual batteries and enables us to lead Spirit-filled, prayerful lives, doing good to all.

c) Jesus nourishes us in the Church through the proclamation of the Word of God and through His Body and Blood offered to us as spiritual food and drink in Holy Communion.

d) We need to participate in the Eucharistic banquet with proper preparation by repenting of our sins and by actively participating in the prayers and singing during Holy Mass.

Participating in Holy Mass is the best preparation and the greatest source of power for our future participation in the Heavenly Banquet.