THURSDAY- 20TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME –B
Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14: Invite everyone you can find to the wedding.
I Reading: Ezekiel 36:23-28: I shall give you a new heart, and put a new spirit in you.
The Parable of the Marriage Feast: Israel’s Rejection of God’s Great
Invitation, Mt 22:1-14
This
parable deals with the kingdom of heaven. The parable has both an historical
and personal meaning. Its points cab be applied to any of us.
1. Jesus again shared a parable
(v.1-2)
a.
Of
the kingdom of heaven
b.
Of
a marriage prepared by God for His Son
2. God’s invitation to Israel (v.3-7)
a.
God
invited Israel, but they rejected
b.
God
showed great mercy
1)
Extended
a second invitation
2)
Prepared
an abundance
c.
God
saw His second invitation rejected
1)
By
a busy farmer
2)
By
a busy businessman
3)
By
the religious and worldly: who denied, scoffed, abused and persecuted
d.
God
judged Israel for rejecting His invitation: destroyed the abusers and
murderers; rejected the rejecters
3. God’s invitation to any and all
(v.8-10)
a.
God
then invited all
1)
Those
who were out on the street corners
2)
Those
who were both good and bad
3)
God’s
invitation was accepted
4. God’s confrontation with the guests
(v.11-14)
a.
God
entered to see the guests
1)
He
saw a man without wedding clothes (righteousness=dikaios=one who totally
depends on God, trusts in Him, does the will of God always and walks in the way
of the Lord and also repentance and change of life)
2)
He
asked only one question
3)
The
man was speechless
b.
God
judged the man who was not clothed properly
1)
Was
bound
2)
Was
taken away
3)
Was
cast into the darkness
c.
God
calls and invites many, but few are chosen
Thought: Most
people are always rejecting God’s invitation (Jn 5:20). God calls and reveals
and longs for us to be present and prepared for His Son’s Great Marriage (the
feast of the glorious days of redemption).
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