Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!
Join us every week for background on this Sunday readings.
Our mission is simple: We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass. Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture.
This week’s theme is The Banquet. (Are you dressed and ready?)
Fun Fact:
God speaks simply to His people in scripture. He wants His people so they can grasp His ideas easily. Light and dark. Parables about sheep and vineyards, watchtowers and winepresses. And of course there’s food. The banquet. Bread and wine. The very substances God chose to transform himself into – these are central images. Today we ponder the Banquet.
Isaiah 25: 6-10A
(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.)
We return tto “Book 1” of Isaiah, the Book of Judgment. Chapter 25 is all about The Banquet. It’s a great idea to read just a few verses before the reading to get a sense of context. In chapter 24, we see Isaiah talking about the Lord laying waste to the land, to the vineyard, to His disobedient people. There are many verses about sour wine: “The new wine mourns, the vine languishes, all the merry-hearted groan. They no longer drink wine and sing;
- In chapter 24, we see Isaiah talking about the Lord laying waste to the land, to the vineyard, to His disobedient people. There are many verses about sour wine: “The new wine mourns, the vine languishes, all the merry-hearted groan. They no longer drink wine and sing; strong brew is bitter to those who drink it.
- Chapter 25 shifts the tone. These verses praise God for carrying out his plan to destroy the enemy and to save the poor of his people. They announce the victory banquet to be celebrated in the Lord’s city.
Today’s reading is about Banquet, which foreshadows the Banquet of the Eucharist on the night Jesus was condemned.
It is also about the veil. The veil is a critical image when it comes to understanding our faith. In the temple, there hung a veil. It hung between the Holy of Holies (where the presence of God was) and the rest of the temple. It was a sacred dividing line that separated the people from their God.
As you may know, when Jesus died on the cross, the veil in the temple was split from top to bottom. Why? Becuase Jesus’s death gave us access to God in a new way. We were no longer separated from Him as in the Old Testament. It was the beginning of a new and better relationship with our God through his Church.
On this mountain the LORD of hosts
will provide for all peoples
a feast of rich food and choice wines,
juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.
On this mountain he will destroy
the veil that veils all peoples,
the web that is woven over all nations;
he will destroy death forever.
What veil in your life separates you from God’s mercy and love?
What veil do you string up for others who want to know and love you better? How can you tear these veils from top to bottom?
Psalm 23: I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)
The response today brings banquet language; it reminds us God is with us always. The house of the Lord is our church, where we celebrate the Banquet of the Eucharist with God, his saints and angels, and all the heavenly hosts:
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Philippians 4: 12-14, 19-20
(The 2nd reading is usually from Paul’s letters. Speaks to how the early church was built after Christ’s death and resurrection).
We are at the end of Paul’s “Letter of Joy.” He thanks his readers for caring for him while in prison. He sounds as if he’s speaking from his deathbed. His message is one of unity and rejoicing in the Lord. These are tasks he passes on to Timothy and Titus, bishops who succeed him. Today he speaks of the inner strength – that which can only be given by God – that carries him through every trial.
In every circumstance and in all things
I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry,
of living in abundance and of being in need.
I can do all things in him who strengthens me.
Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.My God will fully supply whatever you need,
in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
To our God and Father, glory forever and ever. Amen.
Matthew 22: 1-14
(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)
Linked to R1, Jesus tells the parable of the Marriage Feast. One of the relationships I found most fascinating throughout biblical school was that of the marriage covenant:
- First, the covenant between God and Israel (through Abraham),
- Second, the covenant reference of Jesus (the bridegroom) and His Church (bride), and
- Third, the covenant many of us live, the one between a man and a woman in marriage.
We become intimately united with Christ at mass through the Eucharist. United in the same way these covenants unite the bride and groom.
The parable of the Marriage Feast is an allegory of salvation history culminating in Jesus Christ.
- The King is God. He prepares a heavenly banquet for his son (and for you and me).
- The first round of servants – this is cool – are the Old Testament Prophets. They are called to summon Israel. They call Israel and ask them to turn back to God.
- Some invited guests (the Jews) ignore the prophets. Others kill them.
- God will destroy their city Jerusalem and send a second round of servants, the apostles. They invite Gentiles (the not-originally chosen), both bad and good to the banquet.
- Those who lack proper attire are cast into darkness.
What can we glean from this image? To me it means we should Show Up. Show Up for God. Wear your best attire – not just your physical clothing, but what are you wearing on your soul? Gratitude or Envy? Kindness or Jealousy? Generosity or Judgment? Compassion or Injustice?
Show up for God this week. Be invited to His Banquet. This life we live is a dress rehearsal. Every week when we attend mass on Earth; the Banquet of the Eucharist. This my friends, is a dress rehearsal for the Heavenly Banquet where we hope to live forever in God’s glory.
Are we dressed for the Banquet? It’s not too late to put on our shoes and straighten our tie. It’s never. Too. Late.
God waits for us.
Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people
in parables, saying,
“The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who gave a wedding feast for his son.
He dispatched his servants
to summon the invited guests to the feast,
but they refused to come.
A second time he sent other servants, saying,
‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet,
my calves and fattened cattle are killed,
and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’
Some ignored the invitation and went away,
one to his farm, another to his business.
The rest laid hold of his servants,
mistreated them, and killed them.
The king was enraged and sent his troops,
destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
Then he said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready,
but those who were invited were not worthy to come.
Go out, therefore, into the main roads
and invite to the feast whomever you find.’
The servants went out into the streets
and gathered all they found, bad and good alike,
and the hall was filled with guests.
But when the king came in to meet the guests,
he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment.
The king said to him, ‘My friend, how is it
that you came in here without a wedding garment?’
But he was reduced to silence.
Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet,
and cast him into the darkness outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’
Many are invited, but few are chosen.”or
Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people
in parables, saying,
“The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who gave a wedding feast for his son.
He dispatched his servants
to summon the invited guests to the feast,
but they refused to come.
A second time he sent other servants, saying,
‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet,
my calves and fattened cattle are killed,
and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’
Some ignored the invitation and went away,
one to his farm, another to his business.
The rest laid hold of his servants,
mistreated them, and killed them.
The king was enraged and sent his troops,
destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
Then he said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready,
but those who were invited were not worthy to come.
Go out, therefore, into the main roads
and invite to the feast whomever you find.’
The servants went out into the streets
and gathered all they found, bad and good alike,
and the hall was filled with guests.”
Banquet of the Word 