HOMILY FOR THE TWENTY- EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A

THEME OF THE HOMILY: Invite everyone you can to the wedding.

By: Fr Deotacious Chikontwe SMA

*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Isaiah 25:6-10
Psalm 22
Philippians 4:12-14,19-20
Matthew 22:1-14

*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
GREEN

*INTRODUCTION*
Good morning dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A.

*FROM OUR FIRST READING*
In our first reading today, we hear how the Lord reassured His people through the prophet Isaiah, of the coming of the days of true joy and happiness with Him, reminding all of them of the love and all the kindness that He has shown to them and their ancestors in the past days, even as they themselves then were suffering and facing humiliation and indignation due to their own sins and wickedness. Contextually, we have to understand that the prophet Isaiah was delivering the words of the Lord to a people that had been beset by many troubles, difficulties and challenges, as they were faced with many enemies and all those who oppressed them, which also happened because they had abandoned their Lord and God, and chose to follow the worship of the pagan and false gods, over the worship of God.

*FROM OUR SECOND READING*
In our second reading today, the apostle Paul reminded the faithful there, and hence, all of us to trust in the Lord fully, and to heed these words of Paul himself, ‘I can do all things in Him Who strengthens me.’ Those words remind us all that the Lord and His Presence in our lives will strengthen us and give us the necessary ability, courage and power to do our part in living a most worthy and virtuous life, in becoming good, faithful and committed Christians, as God’s beloved children and people at all times and in all opportunities.

*FROM OUR GOSPEL READING*
In this morning Gospel reading, Jesus shares a parable about a king who hosts a wedding feast for his son. Initially, invited guests refuse the invitation. After facing consequences, the king invites all, but emphasizes the importance of being appropriately prepared. Few truly qualify. The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.

*CONCLUSION*
The liturgical readings of today are a reminder for us, that we can be like those who have rejected God’s love and grace, like those wayward guests whom the king had invited to his banquet and yet they all allowed their many distractions and the temptations all around them to get their priorities all wrong. As we heard, they were all punished and destroyed, and they had no part in the king’s banquet and inheritance. Thus, if we also do the same with our own lives, in not heeding God’s words and His call, in rejecting His love and kindness, mercy and compassion, then we will also be rejected in the same manner as well. We are all called to embrace God’s call, His love and mercy, His reminders that we should no longer be ignorant of His love and mercy, and we should not reject His compassion and generous offer of forgiveness. We should answer God’s call with faith and commitment.

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