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This week the readings point to the messianic banquet prepared for all people. The extract from the prophet Isaiah is part of a celebration of the Lord's enthronement as king over the cosmic powers. Here we have a description of a divine banquet on Mount Zion for all the nations to feast a victory over death. The passage closes with a hymn to the Lord's power to save.

The reading from Isaiah forms the backdrop to the gospel passage, the parable of the marriage feast. The kingdom is depicted as a messianic banquet to which the king, meaning God, invites and then calls to attend. There is some urgency in the king's cry that the banquet is ready because first century readers expected the end-times to be imminent. However, those invited denied the urgency and went about their own business. After the king extended his invitation to anyone, good and bad, the wedding hall was filled with guests. The last part of the gospel is most instructive. One of the wedding guests was not wearing a wedding garment, in other words, was not living a good life. The point of the parable is that in order to remain at the banquet in the Lord's kingdom, one has to repent and lead a life worthy of inclusion. Salvation, Jesus tells the chief priests and the prophets, is not automatic.

The readings today give us a wonderful picture of the kingdom as a banquet prepared by a king. It also points to a certain complacency which can creep into our lives if we think that our initial response to God's call is enough to keep us going in life. Let us spend some time today reflecting on our initial call and asking how we have sustained our life as a disciple of Jesus. Prayer, reading, the sacraments of reconciliation and Eucharist all nourish our lives.

Read the passage from Paul's letter to the Philippians and, like Paul, ask God for help as you search for nourishment.

Read today's psalm and spend some time praying with it. Give thanks for God's love and guidance.