＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊ 

 Isaiah 25:6-10a

On this mountain

Yahweh Saboath will prepare for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, meat full of marrow, fine wine strained.

On this mountain he will destroy the pall cast over all peoples, this very shroud spread over all nations, and death will be no more. The Lord Yahweh will wipe away the tears from all cheeks and eyes; he will take away the humiliation of his people all over the world: for Yahweh has spoken.

On that day you will say: This is our God. We have waited for him to save us, let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation. For on this mountain the hand of Yahweh rests.

 

Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4,5,6 (6cd) I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

 

  ＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20 

I know what it is to be in want and what it is to have plenty. I am trained for both: to be hungry or satisfied, to have much or little. I can do all things in him who strengthens me. However, you did right in sharing my trials.

 

God, himself, will provide you with everything you need, according to his riches, and show you his generosity in Christ Jesus. Glory to God, our Father, or ever and ever: Amen.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Matthew 22:1-14

Jesus continued speaking to them in parables: "This story throws light on the kingdom of heaven: A king gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to call the invited guests to the banquet, but the guests refused to come. 

 

Again, he sent other servants, instructing 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 to the wedding!'

 

But they paid no attention and went away, some to their farms, and some to their work. Others seized the servants of the king, insulted them and killed them. The king was furious. 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 instead to the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding feast.' The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, good and bad alike, so that the hall was filled with guests. 

 

The king came in to see the wedding guests, and he noticed a man not wearing a wedding garment. So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in without the wedding clothes?' But the man remained silent.

So the king said to his servants, 'Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen."

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"He sent his servants to call the invited guests to the banquet, but the guests refused to come."

 

Read: Isaiah describes the lavish banquet that God has prepared for the faithful who will spend eternity in his kingdom. In God's kingdom, sadness, hunger, pain, and death no longer exist.

But until we get to the heavenly kingdom, we, like Paul, must learn to live with conditions of want and plenty, sorrow and joy. These trials prepare us for the wedding banquet of the king to which all are invited.

 

Reflect: When I was young, I found it hard to understand why anyone would pass up the chance to go to a wedding banquet. After all, what's not fun about a huge party with family and friends, good food and wine?

As I grew older and my responsibilities increased, the time, energy, and expense required by such an event began to seem too much and I  began to sympathize with the people who declined the king's invitation.

 

But God's invitation to the wedding banquet of the Lamb is far more precious than other invitations. We are invited to dwell with God forever, on his holy mountain. Responding to this invitation is not easy. It requires preparing our hearts through conversion, penance, and acts of loving service.

 

Pray: Lord, make me worthy to sit at the banquet of the Lamb.

 

Act: Invite a friend to share a meal.