A feast of rich food and choice wines…
God’s gifts are abundant and meant for all --
do we come with the right disposition to receive them?
Jesus’ challenge of the chief priests and elders continues in Matthew’s Gospel this week with the parable of the wedding feast. When a king gives a wedding feast for his son and some ignore the invitation while others mistreat and even kill the king’s servants, the king says to his remaining servants, Go out into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find. God’s salvation, Jesus is suggesting, is for all, no matter their origin, so long as their wedding garment – that is, the depth of their investment in relationship with the Lord – is intact.
The universality of God’s gift of salvation can also be seen in Isaiah: On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, the prophet announces. Isaiah is speaking of a victory banquet, but an unusual one: usually, a victory implies one victor, but here all will be drawn to God. Christians read this text as a prophecy of what God will do in salvation history. Jesus’ death on the cross will destroy death, the veil that veils all peoples, the web that is woven over all nations. Moreover, God’s banquet gives life, as both Isaiah and Psalm 23 affirm: You spread the table before me; my cup overflows. So let us be glad that he has saved us!
Paul knows the abundance of God’s gifts in his own life and therefore can reassure the Philippians that God will fully supply whatever you need. No matter the circumstances – poverty or abundance – all are invited to find glorious riches in Christ Jesus, whose kingdom is present here and now, waiting for us to enter and participate… so long as Christ remains the source of our union and our hope!
This post is based on Fr. Pat’s Scripture Class.
Image source: www.wordclouds.com
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