Thursday, August 20, 2015
20th Week in Ordinary Time 1st reading:
Judges 11.29-39a Gospel:
Matthew 22:1-14
Jesus began to address the chief priests and elders of the people, once more u- sing parables:
“This story throws light on the kingdom of heaven. A king celebrated the wedding of his son. He sent his servants to call the invited guests to the wedding feast, but the guests refused to come.
“Again he sent other servants ordering them to say to the invited guests: ‘I have prepared a banquet, slaughtered my fattened calves and other animals, and now everything is ready; come then, to the wedding feast.’ But they paid no attention and went away, some to their fields, and others to their work. While the rest seized the servants of the king, insulted them and killed them.
“The king became angry. He sent his troops to destroy those murderers and burn their city. Then he said to his servants: ‘The wedding banquet is prepared, but the invi- ted guests were not worthy. Go, then, to the crossroads and invite everyone you find to the wedding feast.’
“The servants went out at once into the streets and gathered everyone they found, good and bad alike, so that the hall was filled with guests.
“The king came in to see those who were at table, and he noticed a man not wearing the festal garment. So he said to him: ‘Friend, how did you get in without the wedding garment?’ But the man remained silent. So the king said to his servants: ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the dark where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
Part one of today’s Gospel is all about invitation while part two about scrutiny. The first part is a lesson on priority. In Biblical times, invitations to a Jewish wedding feast were sent out without a definite date; only when preparations were over were the invited guests summoned. Caught unprepared, many would end up declining the invitation. Only those who’d consider the event a priority would pull out from their earlier appointments to hearken to the invitation.
The parable introduces part two (scrutiny) by inserting a guest coming to the banquet hall improperly dressed. The king orders that he be thrown out into the dark. The favor of an invitation comes with the obligation to prepare.
The message is crystal clear: While invitations to salvation are sent out to many, only those who consider it a priority will respond positively and commit themselves wholeheartedly. Among those who respond positively and commit themselves to the invitation, only those who come prepared will be justified. – Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM., MAPM, Email: dan.delosangeles@gmail.com. Website: www.frdan.org.
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