Sunday the 11th of October 2026 - The Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 25:6-10a/ Ps 23(22)/ Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20/ Matthew 22:1-14
I often suggest the first reading and the psalm today for funerals. In our darkest hours these words speak of a future beyond death. The prophet Isaiah gives us a glimpse of heaven. On the mountain, the Lord of hosts prepares a feast of rich food and fine wine for all peoples, he will remove the mourning veil, overcome death and wipe away tears from every face. The psalm, so familiar to us as the hymn The Lord's my Shepherd, holds out the same promise. It speaks of a place where we shall want for nothing, of green pastures and restful waters, where the soul is revived. Even in the shadow of death, we need not fear, because God is with us. However bad things get, a table is being prepared for us in the house of the Lord where we shall live for ever. These words give us great reassurance when things look their darkest. Nothing, not even death, can cut us off from the love God has for us. The Shepherd never abandons his flock.
In the Gospel, Jesus describes this same heavenly banquet as a wedding feast. A king gives a feast for his son. So what goes wrong? Those invited refuse to come, making lame excuses. One goes off to his farm, another to his business, and some even mistreat the messengers. These excuses mirror the excuses we hear today about failing to attend Sunday Mass. Not so many years ago very little happened on a Sunday. There was time to rest, recuperate from a busy week, and yes, go to Mass, which is the closest we can come to the heavenly banquet while still on earth. Today Sunday can feel just like any other day of the week. There are so many things to do or that have to be done and the excuses for not attending Mass abound. Faced with the rejection of his invitation the King sent his servants out to gather alternate guests from every corner until the banqueting hall was filled with every conceivable type of person. No one earned a place by status or reputation, all were equal in the sight of the host. This is a picture of the Church. Every time we gather for Mass, we are guests around the Lord's table, with no consideration of prestige, we are one in the same Lord. We need that reminder in a world that constantly pushes us to seek status, popularity, the best seat. At the altar, we remember our true place before God and before each other. We are all guests, all invited, all dependent on the generosity of the host.
The parable ends with the king finding a guest without a wedding garment, and he is thrown out. This seems harsh, especially since the guests were gathered from the streets. What do we make of this? The wedding garment of the parable is a reflection of the inmost being of the guest. It is a sign of the love of God and neighbour. The guest had attended but had not prepared, had not allowed the generous invitation to change him. He was present in body but not in heart. There is no point attending a great celebration if you do not want to be there. A place has been prepared, food and drink have been laid on, but we must be willing to come and to want to be there. Consider how we prepare for a wedding. We don't arrive in our work clothes or in whatever we lounge around in at home. We make an effort. That effort shows respect for the host and for the other guests. It is the same in our life of faith. The invitation we received at Baptism, when we were clothed in a white garment, came with some small print attached saying, appropriate dress is required. The Church teaches that the baptised have put on Christ. This is signified by the white garment worn by the person being baptised. That garment must be kept clean. Dirty, tattered clothing will not do when we come face to face with our Host and give an account of ourselves.
This is not about outdoing other guests or a nervous fear of being caught out, it is about love responding to love. Our inner life shows itself outwardly, in how we pray, how we forgive, how we treat the person beside us. When the garment gets dirty, torn, and worn, as it will, the host has given us the sacrament of Reconciliation to clean, repair, and refresh it. The Mass is the closest we can come to the heavenly banquet while still in this life. The Eucharist is an anticipation of the heavenly glory. We are called to the supper of the Lamb which is heralded by Isaiah's mountain feast and the king's wedding banquet. Here, the Shepherd sets a table before us.
Today, let us examine our wedding garment. Is there someone we need to forgive? A bad habit that has become embedded? A prayer life that has worn thin? Choose one thing and bring it to the Lord who will repair and refresh our garments for us. Let us rejoice in the invitation God has given us, not looking for excuses to decline, but put our heart into being ready to meet our host. The table is prepared, and the King is waiting for us.
God Bless Brendan