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Home  / News & Publications /  Michigan Catholic News / 2008 /  God challenges those who respond to His invitation

by Fr. Richard C. Macey special to The Michigan Catholic
Published October 3, 2008

First Reading: Isaiah 25:6-10a

Isaiah 24-27 are often called the Isaiah apocalypse. It was a vision about the future. God would re-establish the order He had intended. He would bring about justice and peace among the nations.

In the Hebrew, this passage begins with the introductory summary, "the Lord of hosts provides for all the people." Then, the phrase, "on this mountain," marks off this passage at the beginning and end. "This mountain" refers to Mount Zion, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem (see Isaiah 24:23). The dwelling place of God among mankind is offered as a refuge for "all peoples … the whole Earth." God is presented as the king of the land.

The author speaks of a "feast" or "banquet" rather than a sacrificial meal. It is a celebration "for all peoples." It can describe an enthronement of God, when God takes His place as their king. The Lord God "will destroy death forever" and be victorious over all who oppose Him. The Near Eastern mythologies are replete with stories about a god who is victorious over another god, who brings chaos and death. Here, however, there is no intention of personalizing death as an individual. Also, this phrase probably does not refer to bodily resurrection, but it indicates that there is no greater force than God. God has no limits placed upon Him. The "hand of the Lord" refers to His power and special protection upon the city of Jerusalem. The "we" in the final phrase, which anticipates salvation, refers to "His people," the people of Israel.

This book of prophecy has a strong universalist tone, even though it still reaffirms the primary place to Israel among all the other nations. Some commentators have dated this passage to just after the return of the exiles from Babylon to their homeland at the end of the sixth century B.C. Most scholars, though, believe that the passage can be dated later to the first part of the fifth century B.C.

Second Reading: Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20

The second reading is usually a continuous reading from one of the New Testament epistles. This is the last weekend for a reading from the Philippians. Another Pauline letter will be used in the coming weeks. This passage is near the end of the letter.

Paul is responding to the support he received from the Philippians in his ministry. He tells them that they share in the success of his work because they willingly shared in fulfilling the material support he required. Paul reaffirms his independence. He assures his readers "he knows how" to make do with whatever he has. The phrase, "to live in humble circumstances," may also be translated as "to humble myself" or "to discipline myself."

Paul's independence was based on his trust and dependence upon Christ Jesus. He knew that the ultimate source of his strength came from his faith in God. He was grateful to the Philippians for their care and concern, but he was not controlled and limited by their patronage. In the closing verses, having used his own circumstances as an example, Paul assures the readers that "my God will fully supply whatever you need." He ends with a doxology and changing his expression from "my God" to "our God and Father."

I had the great privilege of having dinner with the outgoing president of the Catholic Biblical Society. He was a noted biblical scholar, who had made some breakthroughs in scholarship. He was well-known and respected. He retired from his professorship this year. He gave his extensive personal collection of books and magazines to the university library. He moved into the retreat center of the diocese where he lived. He planned to give retreats.

I asked him whether he missed the challenge and excitement of the university and meeting publishing deadlines. He smiled and said that he had never been happier in his priesthood. He will miss the students, but he felt freedom from the deadlines and responsibilities of committees. Even leaving the presidency of a prestigious organization was a feeling of exhilaration. He really enjoyed sharing his insights and faith on a completely different level and with a different group of people. I learned from him that retirement is not an end of a fruitful life, but the beginning of an even more challenging and exciting adventure in proclaiming the Gospel.

Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14 (short form: Matthew 22:1-10)

The parable of the marriage feast describes the separation of those who are worthy and those who are not. It has been used as an explanation of the rejection of Jesus by the Jews and acceptance by the Gentiles through the missionary efforts of the Church. It has also been interpreted as a scene from the Last Judgment, when God will separate those who have accepted and prepared for His invitation and those who have not. Even those who have entered the presence of God by membership in the Church would still have to be prepared for this final judgment. The word for "(wedding) feast" is used four times. Four usually indicated universality, as was the second invitation.

Even the banquet hall included "bad and good alike." Although the parable is addressed to "the chief priests and elders," it included a reminder for the people who were in the Church. Just being in the presence of God doesn't make your ready to remain there. It takes preparation. There are requirements to maintain active membership among the disciples. We have to live as though we were celebrating this "wedding" event – the marriage of God and His people. Just as in human marriage, each day renews the vows and promises which will be lived out that day.

We recite our Profession of Faith each week when we come together for the weekend liturgy. It is a reaffirmation to remember our source of strength and to continue to live out what we believe in the coming days. Our own personal lives are a mixture of "bad and good alike." It doesn't make us hypocrites to stand there as baptized believers. It challenges us to put on the mind and attitude of Christ in order to make our belief believable.

Fr. Richard C. Macey is pastor of Our Lady of the Woods Parish, Woodhaven.