Thursday of the Twentieth Week of the Year
Matthew
22:1-14
Again Jesus refers to the Kingdom in terms of a banquet, a
wedding banquet, which the King gave in honor of his son. The servants go
out spreading the wonderful news that a banquet has been set for the king’s
son. They invite all with invitations of “please
come–all is prepared.”
The response of the would-be guests is the story
of salvation history to our present day. Some simply ignore the invitation.
They are so taken up with their business and concerns that they just don’t
want to be bothered.
Others not only ignore the invitation but become
abusive to those who make the announcement. Some even do harm and murder the
messengers. How much we see of this in our day. How many messengers have
shed their blood and given their lives because they made the announcement of
the Good News!
The soil of countries like El Salvador has been
made red with the blood of Oscar Romero, the Jesuits and the holy women, not
to mention the thousands of the nameless compesinos. The story of the
invitation is being lived out in each and every community where the Gospel
of justice and peace is being preached and people are being called to a new
and abundant life.
The Lord never gives up. The invitation continues
to be given. All are called to sit down at Table with the Lord and sup.
Every one belongs. Everyone is a child of this loving Father.
The poor and the humble seem to have the wisdom and
simplicity to know the treasure of God’s love and invitation. Let us not
allow any of the loud voices of our society distract us from accepting the
invitation.
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