Thursday,
August 23, 2018
20th Week in Ordinary Time
1st Reading: Ezk 36: 23-28
Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14
Jesus began to address the chief priests and elders of the people, once more using 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 ser vants 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 invited 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)
Today’s Gospel parable consists of two parts. The first talks about invitation while the second, 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 to the banquet venue. Because of the uncertainty of the date, only those who’d consider the event a priority would pull out from their earlier appointments and hearken to the invitation. It was to this kind of situation that Jesus likened heaven’s invitation. Only those who prioritize matters of salvation will be ready to respond to God’s invitation.
The second part, the scrutiny, is a lesson on the need to prepare for life’s priorities. In the parable, one of the guests came in improperly dressed. This was interpreted by the king as failure to allot due time to prepare for such an important event. God will be just as exacting to us in matters of preparedness for his kingdom. The invitation to heaven is addressed to all, but final accommodation is only for the prepared. – (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., D.M.
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