Sunday Readings: Isaiah 25.6-10; Philippians 4.12-14, 19-20; Matthew 22.1-10
The king said to his servants, “The banquet is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out onto the main streets and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet. The servants went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. This filled the wedding hall with banqueters (Matthew 22.8-10).
How do you handle people who refuse an invitation? What do you do with the leftovers? For Matthew, the story of God’s love for humankind does not end with the end of temple worship. For him, Jesus the messiah hosts the wedding banquet in the eucharists Christians gather in his name to share. For Christians, Jesus’ meal, our eucharist, is the messianic banquet, a feast for all nations. Jesus opens new possibilities for gathering people into union with God. He shows us that wholeness and salvation flower from loving enemies, sharing what one has, making peace, showing mercy.
What matters about weddings? Why do people come or not come? What vision for humankind does a wedding feast express? How does participating in Eucharist strengthen your hopes for humankind?