First Reading: Isaiah 25: 6 - 10
6 On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of fat things, a feast of wine on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wine on the lees well refined.
7 And he will destroy on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations.
8 He will swallow up death for ever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken.
9 It will be said on that day, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation."
10 For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain, and Moab shall be trodden down in his place, as straw is trodden down in a dung-pit.
Psalms 23: 1 - 6
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want;
2 he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters;
3 he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Second Reading: Philippians 4: 12 - 14, 19 - 20
12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want.
13 I can do all things in him who strengthens me.
14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.
19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 22: 1 - 14
1 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying,
2 "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a marriage feast for his son,
3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast; but they would not come.
4 Again he sent other servants, saying, `Tell those who are invited, Behold, I have made ready my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves are killed, and everything is ready; come to the marriage feast.'
5 But they made light of it and went off, one to his farm, another to his business,
6 while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.
7 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
8 Then he said to his servants, `The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy.
9 Go therefore to the thoroughfares, and invite to the marriage feast as many as you find.'
10 And those servants went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11 "But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment;
12 and he said to him, `Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless.
13 Then the king said to the attendants, `Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.'
14 For many are called, but few are chosen."
Homily / Preaching
6 On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of fat things, a feast of wine on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wine on the lees well refined.
7 And he will destroy on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations.
8 He will swallow up death for ever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken.
9 It will be said on that day, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation."
10 For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain, and Moab shall be trodden down in his place, as straw is trodden down in a dung-pit.
Psalms 23: 1 - 6
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want;
2 he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters;
3 he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Second Reading: Philippians 4: 12 - 14, 19 - 20
12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want.
13 I can do all things in him who strengthens me.
14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.
19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 22: 1 - 14
1 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying,
2 "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a marriage feast for his son,
3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast; but they would not come.
4 Again he sent other servants, saying, `Tell those who are invited, Behold, I have made ready my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves are killed, and everything is ready; come to the marriage feast.'
5 But they made light of it and went off, one to his farm, another to his business,
6 while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.
7 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
8 Then he said to his servants, `The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy.
9 Go therefore to the thoroughfares, and invite to the marriage feast as many as you find.'
10 And those servants went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11 "But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment;
12 and he said to him, `Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless.
13 Then the king said to the attendants, `Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.'
14 For many are called, but few are chosen."
Homily / Preaching
Matthew 22, 1-14
The was customary, during the great oriental weddings, we warn guests ahead of time, then the day comes, we send the servants to call them. Thus did the king of the parable we just heard. However, here the guests refuse to answer the call of the King, throwing, and more, they insult or even kill his messengers. What senseless violence! The king is God. God invites everyone to the wedding banquet: "On that day the Lord God of hosts will prepare for all peoples, on his mountain, a feast of fatty meats and heady wines. "(First Reading) Every man is called to privacy. "... Moses and Aaron, Nadav and Avihu, and seventy elders of Israel ... saw the God of Israel and under his feet was like a kind of pavement lazuli, a clarity similar to background of the sky ... They beheld God, they ate and drank "(Exodus 24).
The king sends his servants to meet the poor. What was the reaction of these "poor, crippled, blind and lame" (Luke 14, 21) when they learn they are invited to the royal palace for the celebration of the wedding: surprise, incomprehension, surprise ? Perhaps the disbelief in any because the poor are never invited the rich and they can not even eat what falls from their table like Lazarus (Luke 16, 21). But is it not rather wonder that dominates: Who is like our God? "From the dust he raises the poor, he removes the manure for the poor sit in the company of princes" (Psalm 112.7-8) The Good News to the poor ... Think of the bewilderment of Peter: "Depart from from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man! "(Luke 5, 8). Think of the wonder of the Samaritan woman: "What! you who is Jewish you ask me to drink, who am a Samaritan? "(John 4, 9) relive the surprise of John the Baptist:" I have need to be baptized, and thou shalt come to me? "(Matthew 3: 14) Let us remember the joy of Levi and Zacchaeus who welcome home one who" came not to call the righteous but sinners "(Mt 9, 12)," who came to seek and save what was lost. "(Luke 19, 10).
We can only have covered the heart of wonder at the unmerited love of God which is and remains incomprehensible? He has mercy on me, the last of the sinners! "How can I repay the Lord for all that I do? "(Psalm 116: 12)" You changed my mourning into dancing! "Psalm 30, 12).
"I can do all things in him who strengthens me" (second reading). Now no fear must stop, for Jesus, makes us stronger by giving us his Holy Spirit. "It takes us through the valley of darkness," sang the psalm of today. But, says St. Matthew, one must have taken the bridal gown, one that is woven with love for God: "Let us rejoice, exult and give him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb. His wife has taken on her ornaments, God gave him a garment end linen cloth, pure and radiant, which is the sanctity of the righteous. "(Apocalypse 19).
The wedding dress, dress party is to enter into the joy and wonder of such an invitation. Blessed are invited to the Lord's Supper. Pray to the Lord, for he gives to his church, our community, to be in the world, a visible sign of that joy, that wants to give and be available to all. - Sr.Francine
The king sends his servants to meet the poor. What was the reaction of these "poor, crippled, blind and lame" (Luke 14, 21) when they learn they are invited to the royal palace for the celebration of the wedding: surprise, incomprehension, surprise ? Perhaps the disbelief in any because the poor are never invited the rich and they can not even eat what falls from their table like Lazarus (Luke 16, 21). But is it not rather wonder that dominates: Who is like our God? "From the dust he raises the poor, he removes the manure for the poor sit in the company of princes" (Psalm 112.7-8) The Good News to the poor ... Think of the bewilderment of Peter: "Depart from from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man! "(Luke 5, 8). Think of the wonder of the Samaritan woman: "What! you who is Jewish you ask me to drink, who am a Samaritan? "(John 4, 9) relive the surprise of John the Baptist:" I have need to be baptized, and thou shalt come to me? "(Matthew 3: 14) Let us remember the joy of Levi and Zacchaeus who welcome home one who" came not to call the righteous but sinners "(Mt 9, 12)," who came to seek and save what was lost. "(Luke 19, 10).
We can only have covered the heart of wonder at the unmerited love of God which is and remains incomprehensible? He has mercy on me, the last of the sinners! "How can I repay the Lord for all that I do? "(Psalm 116: 12)" You changed my mourning into dancing! "Psalm 30, 12).
"I can do all things in him who strengthens me" (second reading). Now no fear must stop, for Jesus, makes us stronger by giving us his Holy Spirit. "It takes us through the valley of darkness," sang the psalm of today. But, says St. Matthew, one must have taken the bridal gown, one that is woven with love for God: "Let us rejoice, exult and give him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb. His wife has taken on her ornaments, God gave him a garment end linen cloth, pure and radiant, which is the sanctity of the righteous. "(Apocalypse 19).
The wedding dress, dress party is to enter into the joy and wonder of such an invitation. Blessed are invited to the Lord's Supper. Pray to the Lord, for he gives to his church, our community, to be in the world, a visible sign of that joy, that wants to give and be available to all. - Sr.Francine
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