Twenty-eighth SUNDAY of ORDINARY TIME -- Year A

First: Is 25:6-10; Second: Ph 4:12-14; Gospel: Mt 22:1-14

THEME of the READINGS

The concept that prevails in today's liturgy is change, transformation. First of all, change from a wretched fate in which the people of Israel lived, to one of happiness and joy, symbolized by the banquet on Mount Zion, in which all nations will participate (First Reading). A change from the daily and routine tasks that normally make up our existence, to the exceptional condition of being invited by the king to his son's wedding banquet (Gospel). He who is thus willing to let himself be changed by the action of God may say, as Saint Paul, "There is nothing I cannot do in the One who strengthens me" (Second Reading).

DOCTrinal MESSAGE

The human person, by virtue of natural condition, is a being in the making, constantly changing. Without ceasing to be a person, one's body and spirit are transformed by the environment in which one lives and learns, is a child and adolescent. The vital circumstances surrounding him forge personality, the historical event affect spiritual dynamism. However, the person is not only a passive object, subjected to external influences, but also an active subject who with actions and decisions influences people and the environment that surrounds him. All people, though to a varying degree, influence and are influenced by the people and realities around them. The important thing is for everything to be geared towards the good of the person and of society.

The Christian is also a being in the making, constantly changing. Identified with the origins of the Gospel and of Christianity, the Christian changes when he comes into contact with new realities which he will have to interpret in the light of the Gospel, with new cultures which call for the task of introducing in them the Christian Faith, with new situations and challenges - let us consider Eastern Europe or the problems posed by biogenetics - which require an answer consistent with Christian Faith and morality. This transformation is neither autonomous nor total; rather, it has to proceed at the same pace as God in history, and must take place to the degree that the Holy Spirit inspires the Church and one's own conscience. It is well known that both excessive slowness and great haste in the transformation process do not bear good fruit and normally are very detrimental to the community of believers.

Those that do not accept the play between remaining the same and changing, between identity and adaptation, become immobilized due to excessive inertia in faith. They end up dying while wringing their hands, but without being able to join the battle; or worse yet, fighting with guns against enemies with very sophisticated electronic weapons. Those that reject the game on truly futile grounds, as reasonable as they may seem, will not join the wedding banquet, but be left at the margins of God's great plan in history, and of the great work of redemption.

PASTORal SUGGESTIONS

Neither progressive nor conservative, but simply Christian. In his very being the Christian preserves his identity, but is always open to progress. He is not an exclusivist in the sense of defending his identity to the detriment of change or change to the detriment of identity. He does not give up either of the two things, and walks at the same pace as the Church.

One must be open to progress always and everywhere, while faithfully preserving what is absolutely vital to Christian Faith and morality. One must strive to preserve, but without regrettably confusing preservation with immobility; for instance in the liturgy, in public morality, in interpersonal relations within the family. To preserve yes, but without being so blind as to say that everything is essential, fundamental; that there is nothing that may or should be shed or relinquished. Consider the case of Msgr Lefevre or that of biblical fundamentalism... The Holy Spirit urges the Church and Christians to both actions: to encourage preservation and progress. Without going to the extremes, which have never been good, we need to seek a balance between the two. 

The need for a guide. As an institution for salvation, the Church has the mission of guiding us in history to preserve what needs to be preserved and to make progress wherever there is progress to be made. Therefore, it is not a progress left in the hands of each individual and according to each individual’s own initiative, nor is it a form of preservation that will cater to the particular needs of the consumer. There is an authority, there are shepherds, who guide all Christians in their discernment and, and who work in the area of faith and morality. They are necessary. For the most part, they are holy men. We must obey them, follow their magisterium and their advice with docility. We must also cooperate, if necessary, manifesting with respect to our shepherds our opinion and even our constructive criticism ... If God invites us to the wedding banquet, let us not come up with excuses to avoid being present and sharing the common joy.

Source: http://www.clerus.org/clerus/dati/2004-05/21-13/CICLOA.html by P. ANTONIO IZQUIERDO L.C. (1948-2013)

[참고: 이 파일은 저서명 "가톨릭 교회의 말씀 전례에 따른 성경공부 해설서"(엮은이: 소순태, 출판사: 가톨릭출판사)의 각주의 연장으로 마련되었습니다].