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Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 : Isaiah 25:6-10a

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.
On this mountain he will destroy
the veil that veils all peoples,
the web that is woven over all nations;
he will destroy death forever.
The Lord GOD will wipe away
the tears from every face;
the reproach of his people he will remove
from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.
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!”
For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.

Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

R. (6cd) I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
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.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
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.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

Reading 2 : Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20

Brothers and sisters:
I know 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.
I can do all things in him who strengthens me.
Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.

My God will fully supply whatever you need,
in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
To our God and Father, glory forever and ever. Amen.

Alleluia : Cf. Ephesians 1:17-18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
enlighten the eyes of our hearts,
so that we may know what is the hope
that belongs to our call.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : Matthew 22:1-14

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people
in parables, saying,
“The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who gave a wedding feast for his son.
He dispatched his servants
to summon the invited guests to the feast,
but they refused to come.
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.”‘
Some ignored the invitation and went away,
one to his farm, another to his business.
The rest laid hold of his servants,
mistreated them, and killed them.
The king was enraged and sent his troops,
destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
Then he said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready,
but those who were invited were not worthy to come.
Go out, therefore, into the main roads
and invite to the feast whomever you find.’
The servants went out into the streets
and gathered all they found, bad and good alike,
and the hall was filled with guests.
But when the king came in to meet the guests,
he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment.
The king said to him, ‘My friend, how is it
that you came in here without a wedding garment?’
But he was reduced to silence.
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.’
Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

or Matthew 22:1-10

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people
in parables, saying,
“The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who gave a wedding feast for his son.
He dispatched his servants
to summon the invited guests to the feast,
but they refused to come.
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.”‘
Some ignored the invitation and went away,
one to his farm, another to his business.
The rest laid hold of his servants,
mistreated them, and killed them.
The king was enraged and sent his troops,
destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
Then he said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready,
but those who were invited were not worthy to come.
Go out, therefore, into the main roads
and invite to the feast whomever you find.’
The servants went out into the streets
and gathered all they found, bad and good alike,
and the hall was filled with guests.”

Message from the Readings

Today’s readings proclaim a powerful and hope‑filled truth:
God invites all people to His feast of salvation — but entering the Kingdom requires readiness, conversion, and a heart clothed in grace.
• Isaiah promises a future where God destroys death and wipes away tears.
• Psalm 23 assures us of God’s shepherding care.
• Paul teaches that Christ strengthens us in every circumstance.
• Jesus reveals that the Kingdom is a feast — freely offered, often ignored, and requiring a transformed life.
The message is clear: God invites everyone, but only those who respond with faith and conversion enter the feast.

Reflection for the Day

Isaiah paints one of the most beautiful visions in Scripture:
A mountain. A feast. Rich food. Choice wines. Tears wiped away. Death destroyed forever.
This is God’s dream for humanity — a future of joy, healing, and communion.
Psalm 23 echoes this promise with intimacy:
• God leads us beside restful waters.
• He refreshes our soul.
• He prepares a table before us.
• His goodness follows us always.
The feast is not only future — it begins now, in the Shepherd’s daily care.
Paul then gives us the secret of Christian strength:
“I can do all things in Him who strengthens me.”
Whether in abundance or need, whether full or hungry, whether praised or forgotten — Christ is enough.
But the Gospel brings a sobering challenge.
The King prepares a wedding feast for his Son. The invited guests refuse. Some ignore the invitation. Some attack the messengers. So the King invites everyone — the poor, the broken, the unexpected.
The hall fills.
But one man enters without a wedding garment — symbolizing a heart unchanged, a life unconverted, a faith without transformation.
The feast is free, but it is not casual.
God invites everyone, but He asks us to be clothed in grace — to let His love change our lives.
Today’s readings invite us to three movements:

1. Accept God’s invitation with joy.
   Do not ignore the feast He prepares for you.
2. Let Christ strengthen you in every circumstance.
   Contentment comes from Him, not from circumstances.
3. Clothe your heart in grace.
   Respond to God’s invitation with conversion, humility, and love.
   Let today be a day of joyful acceptance, deep trust, and renewed transformation.

Prayer for Today

Lord God, thank You for inviting me to the feast of Your Kingdom.
Wipe away my tears, destroy the fears that bind me, and refresh my soul with Your presence.
Clothe my heart in grace so that I may enter Your feast with humility, love, and readiness.
Teach me to trust You in every circumstance and to walk in the strength Christ provides.
May Your goodness follow me all the days of my life until I dwell in Your house forever.
Amen.