Newsletter 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Reflection

Come to the Feast

The opening words from Isaiah, “On this mountain . . .” sweep me up into James E. Moore’s powerful hymn, “Come to the Feast.” Written in 4/4 time, each phrase of the six verses begins with four half-notes, “on this mountain” creating a strong pulse as the choir fills in the rest of the Isaiah text singing running eighth- and quarter-notes.

I must admit that I am a bit like Peter at the Transfiguration, wanting to stay “on this mountain” forever. Juicy, rich food and pure choice wines! Who could resist such a lavish feast? Unfortunately, that is not the Christian life just yet. We still await the new heavens and the new earth.

Hearing Matthew’s version of Jesus’ parable of the king’s wedding banquet for his son seems to turn that lavish mountainside feast upside down, as parables do. In Short Stories by Jesus, theologian Amy-Jill Levine reminds us that parables are “open narratives in order to invite us into engagement with them.” Instead of being eager to join the splendid feast described in the Isaiah text, those invited to the wedding banquet ignore the invitation, refuse to come, or excuse themselves, attending to other business. When the feast is ready, the king sends the servants out to the streets to invite anyone they can find until the hall is filled. Only then does the king notice one guest not wearing a wedding garment and has him bound hand and foot and thrown out into the darkness. Given the nature of parables, we can be sure that this is not about clothing, but more likely about one’s inner disposition. Am I ready for the feast?

Sr. Julia Upton

Julia Upton, RSM, is provost emerita at St. John’s University in New York.

Remembering

The Annual Mass to remember the deceased members of the parish will take place on Saturday the 7th of November at the 6pm Mass.