Reflection
In our Gospel today, Jesus told a parable of a great banquet. In His time, when a wealthy person was preparing a major feast, there were two invitations given. The first invitation was sent, and the guests would give their RSVP. Most responded “yes”, to be invited to a great feast was a privilege and honor.
When the meal was prepared and ready, those who had accepted the first invitation would be notified that the time had come for the feast to begin. After receiving this second invitation, they would then come and participate. In the parable, many guests began making excuses once the feast drew near.
Jesus highlighted three of the excuses given for missing the feast. The first said: “I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.” The second said: “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.” The third said: “I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.”
Who buys a field or a yoke of oxen without first seeing them? And if they made such a poor decision, why could they not wait one more day to see their purchase? And who responds I have married a wife? When yesterday? Then why accept the invitation to begin with? These were feeble excuses. Jesus says the master of the house was angry with these responses and tells his servants to go outside the city, to strangers and invite them to the banquet. Those outside the city were Gentiles.
We might think, “How could these people be so foolish and wicked as to say they were going to come to this banquet and then fail to show up with these lame excuses?” Each one of us, followers of Christ, has made a pledge, a vow, a commitment to participate in the life of the church. How have we honored these invitations that we have accepted from God?
All who are married made a vow to their spouse to maintain honor in the marriage. Everyone who baptized their child promised to raise their child to know, love and serve God actively practicing the Catholic faith. Every confirmed Catholic declared their desire to be a disciple of Jesus leading others to heaven by their witness and example. We make a profession of faith at every Mass. Do we live out this profession of faith or is it simply words we repeat? Often, we make commitments that we do not keep. Why does this happen? Because our eyes become fixed on the world, not on heaven. Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt. 6:33).
What did Jesus say, in the gospel, about the people who did not honor their response to attend the feast? To people who make the commitment and do not keep it, whose eyes are fixed on this world and not on heaven, who profess faith in Him but do not possess the faith they profess, He said, “None of these shall taste my supper.” They will not be allowed to enter the Great Banquet of Heaven. Jesus’ response should be a wake-up call. Today, let us reflect on our commitments asking the Holy Spirit to enliven our faith and actions to live out what we profess.