The Banquet

From this Sunday Gospel, the parable of the Banquet, we realize that Jesus knows all about empty
places at the table, invitations refused, lack of interest in Him and His closeness. For us, in this
nation, in this church body, the empty places at the Lord’s table, whether excusable or not, are no
longer a parable but a reality. Jesus also knew about guests who come to the banquet without being
dressed in the wedding garment – they come not to rejoice in His presence but merely out of habit
or out of obligation, since their hearts are elsewhere.
In one of his homilies Saint Gregory the Great asks: Who are these people who enter without the
wedding garment? What is this garment and how does one acquire it? He replies that those who
are invited and enter do in some way have faith. It is faith which opens the door to them. But
they lack the wedding garment of love. Those who do not live their faith as love are not ready for
the banquet and are cast out. Eucharistic communion requires faith, but faith requires love;
otherwise, even as faith, it is dead.