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In our Old Testament reading, Isaiah prophesies a heavenly wedding feast with "juicy, rich food and pure, choice wine." To appreciate the allure of this vision we have to remember that they did not have supermarkets with a variety of fresh meat and luxurious foods. Instead, for a special occasion, they would slaughter an animal and everything would have to be consumed or go to waste. There was very little ability to preserve food and most people lived meal to meal and could only eat whatever was in season in their local area. As for wine, it was consumed in limited quantities and usually diluted with water to make it last longer. The ancient world was one big lesson in “you get what you get and don’t throw a fit.” They would have been amazed at the overwhelming variety of food you and I have access to in this country. They would marvel at the fact that we can have summer food during the winter season and freeze cooked meals for months. They would also be scandalized by the fact that Americans waste 30-40% of all food that is sold in our country. For us, rich food and fine wine is an expectation, a birthright, a normal day in the life of a first world country. But this is new development in the history of the world. More than 2 billion people go hungry every day, even now! In order to appreciate the banquet language of our first reading and gospel, we need to put ourselves in the shoes of those who do not have food security, both in the ancient world and in our times.
To be invited to a wedding feast meant a break from hunger and the drudgery of daily duties. The wedding of a king's son would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience with several days of delicious food, abundant wine and general merrymaking. The prized invitation would come in two stages: first, a general announcement. Then, when everything was ready, they would tell people to drop everything, put on their best clothes and come. No one in their right mind would think of declining the king’s invitation. Even if you didn’t know the bride and groom, you would want to be at the big event to see and be seen. Even if you didn’t care for the king, you would respect his power and authority and do anything to avoid offending him. Even if you didn’t know the other guests or felt out of place, you would have to be insane to pass up free food and drink. Even more so the food and drink that would be offered to guests of the king. A wise and prudent person would do everything possible to be at the wedding feast.
Shockingly, foolishly some of the invited guests turn down the summons. Why? Well, Jesus says they go "one to his farm and another to his business”. They have other priorities; other responsibilities which seem more important to them. A farm and a business are good things, but these characters made them their ultimate concern, even more important than pleasing their king and joining the community in celebrating this happy moment. What matters most to them are the things of this world. In our time we might identify this way of thinking as secularism or materialism. In this worldview, the most important things to be valued are the things that can be measured, like wealth, productivity, health, and power. In this way of living, I put my desires before my obligations. It is, spiritually speaking, a very dangerous way to exist.
You don’t have to be a theologian to see that both the feast in the vision of Isaiah and the feast in Jesus’ parable are pointing to eternal life in heaven. Both images are using the basic elements of food, drink, and fellowship, things we can all appreciate and relate with, to give us a sense of what God wants to provide forever for those that accept his invitation. But we don’t have to wait until the next life to enjoy the meal God wants to serve us! Where do we find the finest spiritual food, drink and fellowship here on earth? In the Mass, at the Eucharist! The Mass is our link to the wedding feast that has been prepared from the beginning of time. Coming to Mass, worshiping at the Eucharist, joining in community each Sunday here at this altar is how we accept invitation of the King.
Sadly, many people have rejected the King’s offer to join in his feast. As a nation and as a world, we are becoming more secular and materialistic. Fewer and fewer people practice their faith, go to church, or acknowledge their obligation to know, love and serve God! For many, the most important things are health, wealth, power, pleasure and productivity; all things that can be measured. They are good things, in their proper place, but they are not the best thing and can never become our ultimate goal. The rejection of God’s invitation, the refusal to eat with him at his table, surrounded by his friends, has an effect on us as individuals and as a society. It makes us spiritually starving and dehydrated.
As we have become more secularized and obsessed with worldly things, we have fallen into more depression, anxiety, and addiction. The most vulnerable are our young people. The Center for Disease Control reported that in the month of June, 25% of young people, age 18-24, considered taking their own life. The study considered that the Covid-19 lockdown increased isolation, stress and substance abuse. The book of Genesis says that it is not good for man to be alone. Even living in a land of abundance does not satisfy the deeper hunger we all experience. We need each other and we need God.
To find God, like the people in today's Gospel, we have to accept his invitation. This is not easy. It is difficult to drop what we are doing and give God his due. Much of what our Church teaches is seen as foolishness in the eyes of the world. But we are in good company! When Jesus first proclaimed the mystery of the Eucharist, "many disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him" (John 6:66) We have special challenges today. Nearly 70% of Catholics no longer believe the Eucharist the Body and Blood of Jesus. Nearly that same number only come to Mass once or twice a year, if at all! Faith is seen by many in our society as old-fashioned and irrelevant and the Church is nothing more than another imperfect human institution.”
As we hear in today's Gospel, Jesus invites the "bad and good alike". I don't know about you, but I am relieved to know that. I recognize that the Church is composed of sinful human beings. I am a prime example of such imperfection! St. Paul describes us as clay jars that contain an incalculable treasure. The treasure we hold is nothing more and nothing less than Jesus in the Eucharist. The Eucharist is our first taste of the banquet God wants to share with us forever. Everyone is invited but no one is forced to go.
Don't turn down the invitation. I know there are many things that compete for your time, attention, and energy. So many of them are good things. But nothing is better or more important than the opportunity to be fed by God and supported by his community of faith. What ultimately matters is how we respond to Jesus' invitation: "Everything is ready. Come to the feast."
