28th Sunday A

Welcome to our Bible Study
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
12 October 2014
Indigenous Peoples Sunday
In preparation for this Sunday’s Liturgy
In aid of focusing our homilies and sharing
Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

First Reading: Isaiah 25:6-10a
• 6 On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all
peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich
food and pure, choice wines.
• 7 On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all
peoples, the web that is woven over all nations; 8 he will
destroy death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the
tears from all faces. The reproach of his people he will
remove from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.
9 On that day it will be said: "Behold our God, to whom
we looked to save us! This is the LORD for whom we
looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!"
10 For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.
The focus is on the mountain (Mt. Zion).

First Reading: Isaiah 25:6-10a
• 6 On this mountain the LORD
of hosts will provide for all
peoples a feast of rich food
and choice wines, juicy, rich
food and pure, choice wines.
• 7 On this mountain he will
destroy the veil that veils all
peoples, the web that is woven
over all nations; 8 he will
destroy death forever. The
Lord GOD will wipe away the
tears from all faces. The
reproach of his people he will
remove from the whole earth;
for the LORD has spoken. 9
On that day it will be said:
"Behold our God, to whom we
looked to save us! This is the
LORD for whom we looked; let
us rejoice and be glad that he
has saved us!" 10 For the
hand of the LORD will rest on
this mountain.
Commentary
• In v.6, the mountain refers to Mt. Zion.
• It is the locus of God’s saving power.
• God promises to treat, with a feast, all the
peoples, not only the Israelites.
– The feast consists of rich, healthy food
and best wines.
• V.7 repeats the expression “on this
mountain.” It emphasizes the importance
of the place.
– This time God promises to remove what
keeps the people enslaved and divided.
• V.8 continues to speak of God’s
promises:
– To wipe away sadness
– To remove what causes them shame.
• V.9, predicts that the peoples will be
grateful to God.
• V.10 gives the reason why. God will be
present in this place.

Reflections on the first reading
• God is a loving God.
• He does not discriminate against anyone.
• He shows his love to all the peoples, not only to the
Israelites.
• He throws them a feast. He treats them with good food.
• God uses Mt. Zion as the locus of showing his power to
his people.
• The mountain is a symbol of God’s presence. It is the
place where God acts for his people and where the
people recognize his gift of salvation.

Further reflections
• To experience God’s presence in our lives, we must
climb his mountain. We must exert effort to approach him
at the appointed times.
• Though we believe that God is everywhere, the mountain
is a special place for encounter with God.
• On Mt. Sinai, Yahweh gave his commandments and
covenanted with his people. Elijah sought refuge on Mt.
Horeb, when Queen Jezebel tried to kill him, and there
God came quietly to console him and give him another
assignment.
• Jesus was transfigured on Mt. Tabor.
• Jesus died on Mt. Calvary for our sins.

• What do we consider as the mountain in our
lives? Where do we go to find satisfaction?
Where do we go to remove the veil and the web
that paralyze us? Where do we go to wipe our
tears away? Where do we go to say our sincere
thanks and praise to God?
• That mountain may not always be a private
place without distractions. It may be a place
where people congregate and together they
listen to the message of a prophet or a teacher,
like the mountain in Jerusalem itself.

Resp. Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
• R. (6cd) I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
• 1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
3a he refreshes my soul.
• 3b He guides me in right paths for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
• 5 You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
• 6 Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.

Resp. Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
• R. (6cd) I shall live in the house of the
Lord all the days of my life.
• 1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not
want.
2 In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
3a he refreshes my soul.
• 3b He guides me in right paths for his
name's sake.
4 Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
• 5 You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup
overflows.
• 6 Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
Commentary
• Ps 23 is one of the most beautiful
psalms, and the psalm most
frequently used.
• Here, God is seen as a shepherd
/ good provider / good guide.
• As a shepherd, God gives
– Repose, rest (vv.1-2)
– Refreshment, guide, protection,
courage (vv.3-4)
– Recognition in the midst of
opposition (v.5)
– Joy and contentment, secure life
(v.6)
• The psalm is a product of a
person, who has experienced the
goodness of God.

Reflections on the Psalm
• The poem can be idyllic, but it demonstrates the
concrete kindness and goodness of God.
• God is a caring God.
• He is after our total well-being.
• Can you write a psalm that looks like it?
• You can, if you have pleasant experiences with
God.

Second Reading: Philippians 4:12-14
• 12 I know indeed how to live in humble
circumstances; I know also how to live
with abundance. In every circumstance
and in all things I have learned the secret
of being well fed and of going hungry, of
living in abundance and of being in need.
13 I have the strength for everything
through him who empowers me. 14 Still, it
was kind of you to share in my distress.
The focus is on experience of need and abundance.

Second Reading: Philippians 4:12-14
• 12 I know indeed how
to live in humble
circumstances; I know
also how to live with
abundance. In every
circumstance and in all
things I have learned
the secret of being well
fed and of going
hungry, of living in
abundance and of
being in need. 13 I
have the strength for
everything through him
who empowers me.
14 Still, it was kind of
you to share in my
distress.
Commentary
• St. Paul shares with us his
life experiences in v.12.
• He has learned how to live
well in contrasting situations:
– In humble circumstances and in
abundance
– In being well-fed and in hunger
– In times of famine and in times
of feast.
• In v.13, Paul attributes to
Jesus his ability to cope.
• In v.14, Paul is appreciative
of the Philippians, who share
in his sufferings (distress).

Reflections on the second reading
• Like St. Paul, in prison at this time (in Ephesus), we
should not take offense of our deprivation.
• If we have deep spirituality (connected to Christ, with
strong prayer life), we will have the strength to cope with
more privations.
• When we are down, remember that our loved ones feel
the same way too. They are in solidarity with us. Let us
thank them like St. Paul.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 22:1-14
• Jesus again in reply spoke to them in parables, saying, 2
"The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave
a wedding feast for his son. 3 He dispatched his servants to
summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to
come. 4 A second time he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell
those invited: "Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my
calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is
ready; come to the feast."' 5 Some ignored the invitation
and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. 6
The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and
killed them. 7 The king was enraged and sent his troops,
destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8 Then
he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready, but those who
were invited were not worthy to come. 9 Go out, therefore,
into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you
find.' 10 The servants went out into the streets and
gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall
was filled with guests.

• 11 But when the king came in to meet the guests
he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding
garment. 12 He said to him, 'My friend, how is it
that you came in here without a wedding
garment?' But he was reduced to silence. 13
Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his
hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness
outside, where there will be wailing and grinding
of teeth.' 14 Many are invited, but few are
chosen."

Gospel Reading: Matthew 22:1-14
Parable of the Wedding Banquet
• Jesus again in reply spoke to them in parables, saying, 2 "The
kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding
feast for his son.
1st summon of invited guests
• 3 He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the
feast, but they refused to come.
2nd summon of invited guests
• 4 A second time he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those invited:
"Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle
are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast."' 5 Some
ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his
business. 6 The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and
killed them.
The King’s Judgment
• 7 The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those
murderers, and burned their city.
A simple outline!

Unworthy guests
• 8 Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready, but those who
were invited were not worthy to come.
3rd summon
• 9 Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast
whomever you find.' 10 The servants went out into the streets and
gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled
with guests.
Unworthy guest
• 11 But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man
there not dressed in a wedding garment. 12 He said to him, 'My
friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?'
But he was reduced to silence. 13 Then the king said to his
attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness
outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.' 14 Many
are invited, but few are chosen."

Commentary on the gospel
There are two parables fused into one.
• Both come under the title, “The Parable of the Wedding
Banquet/Feast”
• The first parable (vv. 1-10) focuses on the refusal of those who
were invited to come.
• The second parable (11-14) focuses on those who showed up but
were not prepared for the occasion.
• On both parables, we may ask: how come that the king who invites
is so insistent and then he becomes violent and destructive? Why
does he not just respect the feelings of others? He should not force
anyone to attend the wedding.
There are three kinds of responses from those invited:
• Some simply refuse to come.
• Others have alibis: work in the farm, engage in business
• Still others become violent.

Reflections on the gospel reading
• God invites us to attend his banquet.
• We should not refuse his invitation. We should make it our
priority.
• The wedding banquet symbolizes God’s initiative to draw us
to himself. In those days, weddings were the best occasions
to forge ties between two parties, not only the bride and the
groom, but their families as well. During weddings, all other
activities are suspended.
• This wedding is not an ordinary occasion; it is a royal
wedding. Everybody should be interested in it and not take it
for granted. One should feel honored if invited.

• Worldly concerns (individual work and personal
interests) hinder us from being keen in attending to
God’s concerns.
• In responding, we should do it properly. It is not
enough to be present. One must be prepared
and presentable (in a wedding garment).
• We do not trivialize God’s invitation. We should
show respect to the host, as well as, exhibit self-respect,
by dressing up.

Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm
The common theme is food and feast.
• The LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of
rich food and choice wines. (1st reading)
• God is a good shepherd, who feeds his flock.
• “I have learned the secret of being well fed, living in
abundance.” ( 2nd reading)
• “Everything is ready; come to the feast.” (Gospel
reading). Be ready too.

How to develop your homily / sharing
• We need food to live.
• We enjoy eating our food if we eat together with
our friends and loved ones.
• Meals have a social dimension.
• During meals, we are expected to be respectful
and sensitive to the needs of others.
• We are taught not to argue during meals, not to
lose appetite.

• The readings for today talk about meals.
• In the gospel, God serves not just an ordinary
meal but a banquet.
• He invites us to partake in his banquet of love.
• We should not fail to oblige.
• It is a great honor to be invited, more so, if we
respond positively.

• In the first reading, God offers a sumptuous
meal to his people.
• God serves nutritious food and best wine in the
mountain.
• Not only that, God will eliminate all the elements
that hinder people from coming together.
• God does not like anyone to be isolated from the
others.
• It is his will that we enjoy our meals together.

• In the second reading, Paul shares with the
Philippians his personal experiences, both in
want and in abundance.
• In times of abundance, he exercises moderation.
He does not abuse his appetite. He is in control.
• In times of want, he does not demand what is
not there. He adjusts.
• He attributes his ability to adjust to Christ.
• Paul is physically and spiritually happy.
• He experiences joy in all circumstances.

• It is unbecoming of a Christian to eat by himself,
when it is possible to eat with others.
• Good food, with conversation, helps build
friendship and relationships.
• When invited to a party, we must dress up
properly for the occasion to honor the host.
• Let each ordinary meal be an agape.

• The eucharist is a banquet of love.
• Here, Jesus gives himself totally in the form of
bread and wine.
• Through the eucharist, he wants to satisfy our
hunger for God.
• There is no other and better way to be in
communion with God than through the eucharist
received in a disposed manner.

Our Context of Sin and Grace
• Alibis
• Inability to relate
• Gate crashers
• Unkempt
• Always eating
• Voracious eater
• Greed
• Junk foods
• Kill joy
• Fraternal gatherings
• Agape
• Social grace
• Neat
• Wedding banquets
• Anniversaries
• Birthday celebrations
• Common recreations
• Nice and well executed
liturgies

Suggested Songs
• The Lord is My Shepherd
• The Wedding Banquet
• The Lord is My Light and My Salvation
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ekQdpjS4VA

28th Sunday A

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