20th Week in Ord. Time, Thursday – 18th August 2022 — Gospel: Mt 22,1-14
Tireless Invitation to Celebrate
Jesus’ parable of the King who throws a wedding party for his son shows us God’s desire for people to rejoice in His goodness and kindness. In this parable, the language of sending and inviting is used repeatedly. If we identify the King in the parable as God, it always amazes how much God continues to reach out to humanity. The King sends out his messengers with the good news again and again. He repeatedly extends his gracious invitation with all the incentives to appeal to people. This is a God who will not give up on humanity, and that is great news indeed. What could be more appealing? The King himself personally describes the banquet saying that his oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered and everything is ready for the feast. The invitation of the King is both a great honour and a sovereign command. Yet some people refuse the invitation with all sorts of excuses. They refuse to change their plans in order to share the joy of the celebration. And some go so far as to persecute and kill the heralds of good news. This causes the King to open up the celebration to anyone who would accept the invitation, both good and bad. This is God’s invitation declaring his preference for the marginalized. So everyone is invited for a joyful time of celebration, and there will be so much in his kingdom to enjoy. Is our response to this call favourable or unfavourable?
