11th October 2026
Reflection with readings below
Everyone enjoys a good party! And a feast is the opposite of a famine. So when God invites us to a feast we should expect a scenario where they will be plenty of food and plenty to drink, plenty of joy and happiness. If the feast is a wedding feast then we should know this as a celebration of a lifelong union, of an eternal covenant.
Last week’s readings had a focus on vineyards. In Isaiah the story focused on the vine and the failure of its fruit, whilst the gospel story focused on the tenants – those who were meant to tend and harvest the vine’s fruits, passing on what was due to the owner. Isaiah’s story focused on the fruitfulness of God’s people; the gospel on the honesty of those who were tasked with looking after the people of God.
Today’s gospel story may be a combination of both. The wedding feast reminds us of all that God has prepared for us to enjoy – the bounty and beauty of creation. God’s good earth is wonderfully productive and resourceful. Even with this century’s projected human population of ten billion, the Earth’s produce would more than satisfy their appetites. Surprisingly it is not a lack of food that underpins hunger and famine but a lack of equality and of a fair distribution of resources. Equally it is note lack of accommodation that causes homelessness, but a lack of equality and of fair distribution. (There are in the UK 309,000 long term empty houses against 290,000 people who are homeless!)
It is not the feast that is a problem. Rather it is the unwillingness of those invited to engage with the king. Those who are rich, those whose lives are self sufficient, those who feel no need to pay attention to anyone else, turn down the invitation. They do not want to waste their time and effort in a celebration that benefits others.
And is that not what we see with those in our world today who are rich, who are self satisfied, who have not concern for anyone else? They take all they want – and more! – and do nothing! ensure that the bounty of the Earth – the feast – is intended for everyone.
And so yes, as is told in the parable, surely we would love to see those who have been marginalised, those cast out by the rich and powerful, those who lack any fair share of resources, being invited to share the abundant bounty of the Earth’s harvest.
But hang on a moment! Are we not actually some of the rich and powerful -maybe not super rich but certain,y richer than most of the world’s population? Are we ready and willing to participate in this feast, are we ready and willing to ensure a just and fair distribution of food, of drink, of homes, of safety even if that means forgoing some of our pleasures and privileges, even if it means forgoing some of our wealth and incomes? Are we in danger of saying yes to the invitation but then failing to act accordingly? Are we in danger of wishing to benefit from the Earth’s bounty whilst pressing for a fairer share of the feast? Are we in danger of arriving at the feast underdressed?
There is still time to repent and make amends. Isaiah long knew that the people of God were easily distracted from their invitation to enjoy rich lives if they stuck to following God’s ways. He knew that these false ways would lead to eviction and deportation. But Isaiah also know that God would always quickly be ready to help those who turned thwir back on sin, those who were repentant and sought to live a better life following the way of God.
Jesus knew that many were caught up in systems, caught in the snare of wealth and high wages. He knew that they could repent and be welcomed I to God’s kingdom. He also knew that for some it would be a difficult choice to make because it would be sacrificial. But he also knew that individuals could make the right choices, and that if the band of disciples was growing in numbers, then more and more would respond to that message.
May God release us from the ties of wealth and privilege and give us the courage to invite and enable everyone to enjoy the feast that God’s Earth has to offer equally and fairly. Amen.
Isaiah 25:1-9
O Lord, you are my God;
I will exalt you, I will praise your name;
for you have done wonderful things,
plans formed of old, faithful and sure.
For you have made the city a heap,
the fortified city a ruin;
the palace of aliens is a city no more,
it will never be rebuilt.
Therefore strong peoples will glorify you;
cities of ruthless nations will fear you.
For you have been a refuge to the poor,
a refuge to the needy in their distress,
a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat.
When the blast of the ruthless was like a winter rainstorm,
the noise of aliens like heat in a dry place,
you subdued the heat with the shade of clouds;
the song of the ruthless was stilled.
On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples
a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines,
of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear.
And he will destroy on this mountain
the shroud that is cast over all peoples,
the sheet that is spread over all nations;
he will swallow up death forever.
Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces,
and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth,
for the Lord has spoken.
It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us.
This is the Lord for whom we have waited;
let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
Psalm 23
1 The Lord is my shepherd; *
I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures *
and leads me beside still waters.
3 He revives my soul *
and guides me along right pathways for his Name’s sake.
4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I shall fear no evil; *
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; *
you have anointed my head with oil,
and my cup is running over.
6 Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, *
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Philippians 4:1-9
My brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
Matthew 22:1-14
Once more Jesus spoke to the people in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’ But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.
“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”
