[Isaiah 25:6-10a; Psalm 23; Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20; Matthew 22:1-14]

Every time I have heard today’s Gospel, I have been left puzzled as to why the man with no wedding garment had been excluded. The answer I have come to realise, is that although he has been invited in, he has failed to be converted; and to turn away from his previous behaviours.

The parable we hear today, is yet another aimed at the chief priests and the elders of the people; those who had influence and who were actively plotting against Jesus. They were the leaders of the original chosen people, those in the parable who were the initial invitees to the wedding feast. As we hear in the parable, they would not come, making excuses, with some even assaulting or killing some of the servants who had been sent to invite them. Those killed can be looked upon as the prophets who came before Jesus, to try and encourage the Jewish people to keep the faith. The king then decided to find other people to attend the wedding feast, so sent more servants out to find people who could appreciate what they were being invited to.   We are those people. We have been chosen as the people of the New Covenant; we have been given Wedding Garments for the eternal banquet through our Baptism. The guest without the garment, was soemone who failed to fully commit to the Faith.

Do we appreciate what we have been offered? Or are we complacent like the Chief Priests and scribes?

We are called to live out our faith; we have now become the servants to go and seek others to come to the banquet. It is not enough to sit back and be content that we have been promised eternal life and have been redeemed through Jesus; we need to live out what Jesus taught, every day, that is how we keep our wedding garment.

In the first reading we have an insight into what the banquet will be like; remember, the Chief priests and the scribes had access to this reading too, and they failed to recognise the One who could guide them to it. We are told the feast will be lavish, with only the best food and wine served. It will mean an end to death, there will be no more tears, and we will be in the presence of God. The Jewish leaders were in the presence of God and failed to recognise Him.

Every time we come to church, we are in the presence of God, because Jesus lives inside the tabernacle. Do we appreciate this? Do we understand this? When Adoration is offered, we are being invited to bask in the presence of God, like a preview of the banquet; do we accept the invitation? Or are we like those in the parable who make excuses? I know I can be guilty of this sometimes.

The good news is that it is not too late. We can change our ways, repent, seek forgiveness and try again. Jesus has given us so many opportunities to be saved. He demonstrated His love for us by coming into the world as one of us, He experienced life, with everything that goes with it, except He was able to resist temptation. He experienced a horribly cruel death to demonstrate His love for us and through rising from the dead, He has shown us the way back to be with Him; and live with Him in His presence. He has even left us with the Sacraments to help us to be filled with grace and to be able to recognise the love He has for us through those Sacraments. We just need to respond to His invitation. He never stops inviting, it is us who stop responding.

I have recently returned from Medjugorje, where many people have experienced reconciliation through the messages received and how that Parish in Bosnia Herzegovina has responded. This little Parish on the edge of Europe has welcomed the world to come and experience the Sacrament of Reconciliation, time in front of the Blessed Sacrament, a renewed call to pray the Rosary and to pray earnestly for peace. This is a place on earth where we can get a glimpse of what heaven could be like. One day while coming down from one of the hills we even encountered a good shepherd, who waited patiently for a sheep who had been left behind. He didn’t allow the rest of the flock to enter the sheepfold until the one who had lagged behind was able to catch up. Like the Good Shepherd, he didn’t want to lose one of his flock. That is how Jesus loves us, He doesn’t want to lose any of us, He is patient, kind and watchful for each one of us.

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

CCC 543-546: Jesus invites sinners, but demands conversion
CCC 1402-1405, 2837: the Eucharist is the foretaste of the Messianic Banquet[1]

Please accompany in your prayers

  • All those who are sick, either at home or in hospital, especially those who have very few or no visitors.
  • Those who have died and those who grieve for them.
  • The success of the Pastoral Area Mission Plan.
  • The continued success of the Alpha courses taking place in our Pastoral Area.
  • The continued success of the Sycamore Programme which started in Tadley last Tuesday.
  • All those attending the Baptism Preparation course which starts this Sunday at St Bede’s.
  • The success of the Christians Against Poverty [CAP] money coaching sessions, which begin on Thursday 15th October in St Bede’s Church Hall.

Deacon Tony

9th October 2026

[1] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments