In today's first reading, Isaiah 25: 6-10a, Isaiah prophesizes about the heavenly banquet to which all are invited: "On this mountain the Lord of host 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 [the masks] that veils [the masks] all peoples, the web [Covid-19] that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever. The Lord will wipe away the tears from every face; the reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the Lord has spoken." The prophet is speaking of the heavenly banquet to which all of us are called once we leave this earthly life. This banquet now is the Eucharist, which we celebrate at every Catholic Mass.
In today's Gospel, Matthew 22: 1-10, Jesus shares the following parable: "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 filled, and everything is ready; come to the feast.' Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to the business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them and killed them."
The king is the heavenly Father. The Son is Jesus! We are the invited guests! What excuse do we make when invited to the feast, to dine with Jesus, to sit at His feet and listen to His words, His teachings, and to follow His Way? Are we too busy? Busy with what? What prompts us to ignore the invitation? And do we, God forbid, beat the persons inviting us? Do we kill them? Put them in cages? Throw them out of our presence? Berate them? Encourage others to harm them in some way?
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