Matthew 22, 1-14
The gospel speaks about an invitation. The host in the parable regrets that nobody came. In the parable, the king makes elaborate preparations for a wedding banquet and invites guests. But they all beg off for supposedly more important matters. One goes to his estate, another to his business. Jesus refers to the wedding banquet as God’s kingdom.
Jesus’ parable is a thinly veiled accusation against the Jewish people of the day who are invited by God to be his Chosen People, but they contemptuously refuse. The parable serves as a warning for us Christians as the new Chosen People who are invited.
In fairness, we did not ignore God’s invitation. Otherwise we would not be baptised Christians and would not fulfil our Sunday obligations. But we are still on the way to the great banquet. The danger for us is to allow the affairs of this world, our business, our pleasures to blur our vision of the real goal in life.
There was a couple who were so engrossed in their business of manufacturing big volumes of clothes for export that their family suffered. Their high school daughter got pregnant by a guy they did not know. Their son started taking drugs. Their business was all that mattered so that they worked even on Sundays.
Because the couple had no more time for one another, eventually their marriage broke up.
Paraphrasing our Lord’s words, “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but suffers the loss of his family?” We can be so busy making a living that we fail to make life itself.
Our Lord invites us to live a balanced life that takes into consideration our spiritual well-being. He invites us to his Eucharistic banquet for our spiritual nourishment and to have time for him in prayer.
God does not take away our time for work, recreation, and other pursuits. He asks that we do not neglect our spiritual needs.
Let us prepare ourselves to be clothed with the garment of faith and charity as we attend the banquet of the Holy Eucharist.
Heavenly Father, when we attend the feast of the Eucharist, let us be aware of our failings and let us be humbled by your love.
Brothers and sisters, let us be aware that God will supply whatever we need.
+ Manny Cabajar, C.Ss.R. D.D.
