Twenty-eighth of Year A - The Eternal Banquet
October 2008
An image used throughout the Bible is the image of a party or a feast or a banquet.
Much of Jesus’ teaching was given during or in the context of a meal.
The sacrifice of the Mass and the Eucharist was given to us during a meal and takes the form of a meal together.
Today’s first reading from the Old Testament and the Gospel from the New Testament uses the same imagery to describe what Eternal Life may be like.
High points of our lives are marked by having a feast or a party. Parties are not just about the eating and drinking but more importantly because only people who have a relationship of love or friendship towards us and towards each other are in attendance.
A party where some people have a relationship of dislike or enmity towards each other is not a party; it is a disaster.
The man who tried to attend the wedding banquet without a wedding garment is one who had a relationship of enmity, hatred or non-forgiveness towards one or more of those present.
Now is the time for me to do something about my relationship with others. Now is the time to ask God my Father for the gifts of forgiveness and reconciliation.
After all if I know my luggage contains contraband it is only common sense to get rid of it before I arrive at customs.