＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Isaiah 25:6-10a

On this mountain

Yahweh Sa­ba­­oth 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, for ever and ever: Amen.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Mattthew 22:1-14

  Jesus went on speaking to them in 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 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.’  Know that many are called, but few are chosen.”

 

Gospel Reflection：

Read:

This Sunday continues the reflection on the Kindom through another parable – the Wedding Banquet. Israel, the chosen people of Yahweh were the first to be invited. But Israedl unwilling to welcome the king’ Son, so we gentiles have been graciously invited by the Bridegroom.

What an honor to be included in the guest list of the king’s Son! With the honor comes the responsibility to come properly dressed for the banquet otherwise one may still be cast away!

Reflect:

The Eucharist we celebrate is THE banquet! We have been honored with an RSVP invitation! Participation must be our priority schedule. But we do need to be prepared for the banquet are we spiritually prepared to participate in the Eucharist?

Though the Gospel does not really demand a literal “dress code” still at times we can ask how we come dressed for our Sunday worship.

Pray:

It is a good practice to properly dispose ourselves before the Mass and likewise give thanks to God for the great privilege after the Mass. St. Thomas Aquinas has a beautiful prayer before mass. And the hymn “Soul of Christ” is most helpful.

Act:

This Sunday spend some quiet time before the Blessed Sacrament after the Mass to savor the great privilege of having been invited to the banquet of the king’s beloved Son.