October 9, 2011 ~ Liturgical Year A, Cycle I ~ Twenty-Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time
First Reading: Isaiah 25:6-10a
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
Second Reading: Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20
Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14
These readings can be viewed at http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/100911.cfm.
Reflection Questions
1. Describe the passion Christ had to continually confront the religious leaders of His day. Can you relate to that passion? What would it take for you to have the passion He has?
2. In this parable, what are the different ways we can separate ourselves from God? Of all the ways described here, which one is most prevalent in our culture? Why?
3. If God wants all of us to get to heaven, why would God allow so many people to suffer and lose hope in Him? How can this suffering be reconciled with God’s Fatherly love for each of us?
Gospel Reflection
Isn’t it odd that, despite having Jesus preach to them incessantly, the chief priests and elders still didn’t get His message? Can you image how fired-up Jesus must have been to continually have the energy to confront them? In this Sunday’s Gospel passage, Jesus once again addresses the religious leaders of His day with a parable. In it, the king asks his servants to invite guests to the wedding feast of his son. All of the elements of this parable have a deeper meaning. The king is God; the servants are the angels; the son is, well, Jesus the Son; the wedding is heaven. Note that it is not a coincidence that Jesus uses wedding language. Scripture is full of wedding language, from Genesis 1 through the book of Revelation. God’s plan of salvation is ultimately a plan of how we will be married to God in heaven. This marriage talk isn’t just figurative speech, but is the ultimate reality: We, the Church, are to be married to our bridegroom, Jesus, in heaven. So God the Father is preparing us for the ultimate wedding in heaven, and He is inviting everyone to be there. Does everyone come? No. As Jesus points out in the parable, some people will refuse God. Others are too busy for Him. Some are so violently against God that they would choose to harm Him by killing His Son and those who speak for His Son. Some will try to get into heaven on their own standards, not submitting their lives to Jesus, but they will be cast out. Jesus is making a couple of points here. First, if we want to get to heaven, we have to do it God’s way, not our own way. God’s way is clear, and can be easily seen in the teachings of His Son and the Church. Second, God wants all of us to get to heaven, and is willing to do anything to help us get there except make the decision for us. God, in the Second Person of the Trinity, died to show us how much He loves us, yet He still gives us the freedom to make choices, even one to reject him. Unfortunately, many will not accept God’s invitation to eternal life with Him in heaven, and will choose to reject Him. Let us pray that all people will have the love to say ‘yes’ to God without excuses and without conditions. Let us hold up to the Lord those who reject Him, that God may grant mercy on them and they will return to His love.
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