In Isaiah, we hear a beautiful image of God preparing a great feast for all peoples; a feast of abundance, joy, and communion. God does not prepare a small table for a select few, but a banquet where every tear is wiped away and death itself is overcome.
This reading is often used for funerals. It is a beautiful reflection on heaven. In the Gospel, Jesus uses a similar image: the kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepares a wedding feast for his son. The invitation goes out, but some refuse to come. Others become distracted by their work and daily concerns. The invitation, however, keeps going out. God desires that we come to the table, not because we have earned a place there, but because we are loved and invited.
Perhaps that is one of the great challenges of discipleship: recognizing that God’s invitation is meant for us today. It is easy to become so occupied with work, responsibilities, worries, and the many demands of life that we fail to notice the feast God is already placing before us. The Eucharist is that feast in a particular and profound way. Here at the altar, Christ gathers us, feeds us, forgives us, and reminds us that we belong to something greater than ourselves.
The wedding garment in Jesus’ parable can remind us that accepting the invitation also means allowing God to change the way we live. We come as we are, but we do not remain as we were. May we have the grace to hear God’s invitation, to come to the feast with grateful hearts, and then to carry the joy of that feast into the world around us.
Father Ken will be in Washington D.C. chaperoning our eighth grade class trip. What a joy that our kids get to go, and Father Ken gets the opportunity to see all of these historic American sites. Pray for them all to have a wonderful time and safe trip.
-Father Arisman