October 15 2023

• In Isaiah’s vision, the LORD will provide for all peoples, not just the house of Israel and not just those who remained faithful through all the trials they had endured. Because everyone is invited, there will naturally be some who feel that this is too generous, that unfaithful people or sinful people, that pagans or enemies do not deserve a place. Perhaps that judgmental mentality or jealousy is part of the “veil that veils all peoples” that God will destroy (Isaiah 25:7). The vision speaks of the veil as death, but it may also represent anything that diminishes life, from petty jealousies to vicious hatred. All that is harmful and hurtful is lifted off humanity on God’s holy mountain. 

• The Gospel parable makes clear that our appropriate response to an invitation to a feast is acceptance. But beyond that, what should be our response to such generosity from God? We are called to extend that kind of generosity to others. Giving to others passes God’s generosity on to others. And generosity to those most in need extends God’s generosity to those who most need it. May we realize the ultimate source of all that we are blessed with, so that we may be like the king’s servants, who could have attended the feast alone, but continued to pass that generosity along, to good and bad alike, until it had spread all over the region.

 • The end of the parable reminds us of our obligation to prepare ourselves for God’s invitation. Saint Paul provides a model of that preparation. He is aware that though there are times when he is surrounded with plenty, other times he must go without. But he has learned the secret: in Christ Jesus, God supplies us with all we need. 

Question of the Week How can God’s generosity give me peace of mind through difficult times?