GOSPEL
Jerusalem Bible © 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd
and Doubleday & Company Inc.
Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a feast for his son’s wedding. He sent his servants to call those who had been invited, but they would not come. Next he sent some more servants. “Tell those who have been invited,” he said, “that I have my banquet all prepared, my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, everything is ready. Come to the wedding.” But they were not interested: one went off to his farm, another to his business, and the rest seized his servants, maltreated them and killed them.
The king was furious. He dispatched his troops, destroyed those murderers and burnt their town. Then he said to his servants, “The wedding is ready; but as those who were invited proved to be unworthy, go to the crossroads in the town and invite everyone you can find to the wedding.” So these servants went out to the roads and collected together everyone they could find, bad and good alike; and the wedding hall was filled with guests.’
(Matthew 22:1–10)
DID YOU KNOW?
Points of interest and Catholic lore
- The wedding banquet is a commonly used image for the kingdom of God in the Hebrew and the Christian Scriptures. The feast was a symbol of the abundance to be provided by God for those who have faith.
- A Jewish wedding celebration often lasted for as long as a week, which may explain why some were reluctant to attend. Like living in the kingdom, it was demanding!
EXPLORING THE WORD
There are two parables in today’s gospel. The first is about the invited guests who are too preoccupied with their own business and affairs to come to the prepared feast. When we consider the length of time that guests may be involved in celebration, especially one given by a wealthy king, this is more understandable. The response of the invited guests, the chosen people, was to kill the messengers, an echo of last week’s gospel, where the people of Israel rejected the prophets. The second parable, in the longer version of the gospel, is about the one who came but did not bother to change into his wedding garments. In both, the reaction of the king seems somewhat extreme! But the parables make an important point about the invitation being offered by God: those who do not bother to respond will lose their invitation; those who accept but fail to change their way of life (their clothes) will also lose out. This text warns that Christian life is a web made up of God’s gracious invitation and our free response.
- What are you being invited to? Is this an invitation for the present only?
- Do you identify with any of the characters in the gospel? Discuss the various reactions.
MAKING CONNECTIONS
Opportunities for group discussion and personal prayer
- What excuses do you make for not doing what you ought?
- Are there things that keep you from responding fully to the invitation?
- Share stories of times you avoided invitations and the excuses you used not to go somewhere you didn’t want to be.
- What are the things in your life that preoccupy you and make it difficult to respond to the invitation of God?
- Recite this line from the psalm every day this week:
You have prepared a banquet for me in the sight of my enemies.
My head you have anointed with oil;
my cup is overflowing.
(Psalm 32:5)
SHARING THE TRADITION
A closer look at the Scripture of the day, to see how it makes more explicit God’s word to us through the teachings of Jesus Christ
In the Catholic tradition, the image of the feast evokes the Eucharist, the centre of the Church’s life and worship. The Second Vatican Council called the Eucharist ‘the source and summit’ of the Church’s life. It is the ‘source’ because all the rest of the Church’s prayer and action in the world flows from it, and it is the ‘summit’ because it is the supreme act to which every other prayer and action of the Church is directed.
- Explain the ways in which Christ is present in the eucharistic celebration: in the gathered people; in the person of the priest; in the word proclaimed; and in the consecrated bread and wine, which become the body and blood of Christ.
- In days gone by, there were lengthy periods of fasting and preparation before receiving Communion. Explain the changes to this practice and point out that preparation is still required. Discuss the forms that this may take.
- What special attitude or ‘clothing’ should we put on when we come to celebrate the Eucharist?
LIVING THE WORD
Practical ideas for group leaders to employ in connecting Scripture and daily life, with suggestions for music and environment
- In what ways does your parish extend an invitation to join in the activities of the community? How might this have changed recently.
- What processes are in place to offer welcome to guests and visitors?
- Is there a role for the catechumens in these ministries?
- For Christians, the symbolism of the meal is particularly significant because of its Eucharistic associations. The meal of living bread and wine—the body and blood of Christ—is in continuity with the meal Jesus shared with his disciples and a foretaste of the heavenly banquet where there will be abundance for all who respond.
- Invite participants to acknowledge one of the blessings that has come to them as a result of their positive response to the invitation of God. A suitable song could be ‘Come to the feast’ (GA 400). You could conclude with the prayer of exorcism in the RCIA at §94F.