Commentary for Sunday
Brant
Pitre
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28th Sunday of Year A
Fr. Paul
Galetto
OSA
Fr. George
Corrigan
OFM
Fr. Kieran
O’Mahony
OSA
PDF & Video Commentary
28th Sunday of Year A
Fr. Francis
Martin
The Word Proclaimed Institute
28th Sunday of Year A
Catholic
Climate
Covenant
Catholic Climate Covenant
28th Sunday of Year A
28th Sunday – Cycle A
Pope Francis reminds us that God is the ultimate source of all creation, the Host of that vast banquet to which all are invited, and by which all are sustained. He is especially concerned with the poor, who usually suffer the most from environmental degradation and climate change – which, in the final analysis, is a manifestation of greed, consumption, and selfish individualism.
In today’s parable the original invitees were too busy to join the celebration because they had their own private agendas that they considered more important. Will we commit ourselves to the task, or will we prioritize our own agendas and be “too busy” to attend, too selfish to share what has been freely gifted to us, and meant to be shared for the good of all?
“Both everyday experience and scientific research show that the gravest effects of all attacks on the environment are suffered by the poorest.”… The impact of present imbalances is also seen in the premature death of many of the poor, in conflicts sparked by the shortage of resources, and in any number of other problems which are insufficiently represented on global agendas. (48)
St. Charles
Borromeo
Notes
Parish Bible Study Notes
28th Sunday of Year A
Catholic Bible Study
28th Sunday of Year A
Together with God’s Word
28th Sunday of Year A
KEY VERSE: “Many are invited but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14).
TO KNOW: The marriage feast or banquet was a popular way of imagining the coming of God’s reign… READ MORE
TO LOVE: Have I failed to heed God’s call in my life?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, give me the grace to accept the invitation to your eternal banquet.
28th Sunday of Year A
FIRST READING
In the 1st Reading, God makes at least 6 promises to his people. What are they? How do they (or could they) apply to you?
SECOND READING
In the 2nd Reading, how has St. Paul learned to rely on God for his every need? How do we know that God will also provide for us (Mt 22:19-20)?
GOSPEL
Why is the banquet in Jesus’ parable being held?
What do you learn about those originally invited? What is so surprising about their response?
Who did the king eventually invite? Why?
What is the problem with the one guest (Mt 22:11-12)? What does it mean to be in the king’spresence “without a wedding garment”? What is its significance (Revelation 21:27; 6:9-11; 7:9-10, 13-14)? Why is this ill-clad guest banished?
What does it mean to accept Jesus’ invitation? What is he inviting you to?
What kind of excuses have you given for not responding to Jesus’ invitation? What kind ofchange are you afraid he wants of you?
With whom do you identify with in this story and why?
SOURCE: SundayScriptureStudy.com / used with permission
The Divine Banquet
28th Sunday of Year A
In the symbolic images of the prophets, drinking wine and marriage are two of the reoccurring metaphors used to describe the covenant people’s relationship with God. Drinking the best wine at a banquet or a wedding feast is symbolic of the perfection of covenant union with the Lord. The First Reading and the Gospel Reading use a banquet/wedding feast to describe the bliss of eternal communion at the Divine Banquet in the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Eschatological Banquet of the Just
Drinking wine is one of the symbolic images of the prophets depicting Israel's relationship or lack of a relationship with God. In the Old Testament, drinking wine in the Banquet of the Just symbolizes Israel's covenant union with God (see the chart on the symbolic images of the prophets).
Mount Zion is a symbol of the Church in the heavenly Jerusalem.
"The veil" refers to sin that separates humans from fellowship with God; sin brings physical and spiritual death. The promise in verses 7-8 is that God will remove the barrier of sin. Jesus fulfilled the promise when He offered up His life on the altar of the Cross.
Michal E Hunt, Copyright © 2014; revised 2023 Agape Bible Study; used with permission
Wiki Connections
28th Sunday of Year A
Gospel Connections
28th Sunday of Year A
28th Sunday of Year A
2nd Reading Connections
28th Sunday of Year A
Non-Catholic Resources
28th Sunday of Year A
20th Sunday after Pentecost / Proper 23A
GENERAL
Richard Niell Donovan, a retired Disciples of Christ clergyman, published Sermon writer for more than two decades. When Dick died in 2020, his wife, Dale, has graciously kept the website online free of charge.
Matthew 21:1-14
Biblical Commentary
Mt 21:23 – 22:14. THE CONTEXT
Mt 22:1-14. TWO WEDDING PARABLES
Mt 22:1-10. THE PARABLE OF THE MARRIAGE FEAST
Mt 22:11-14. THE PARABLE OF THE WEDDING CLOTHING
Sermons
When Showing Up Isn’t Enough
Just imagine that you were to receive a personal invitation to a banquet at the White House. So how do you respond? “Next Saturday? Let’s see. Well, I don’t know. I was planning to check my garden that day.”
It’s Not about You
Jesus tells us that the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a wedding. Not just any wedding, but a royal wedding where the handsome prince marries his beloved, and the king puts on the banquet to end all banquets.
Center for Excellence in Preaching
Episcopal Church, USA
Conflict is part of every day. There are some conflicts that need to be reduced. Other conflicts are part of the human condition. What does not help is ignoring conflicts – whether they are conflicts to be solved, or conflicts to be learnt from. The gospel texts are replete with dynamics of conflict: occupation; internal conflict between people about whether one should or shouldn’t work for an occupying force; conflict about the inclusion of others; conflict about the role of leadership and the role of popular voices.
