A wedding reception is considered by most people as the epitome of grand celebrations. Anyone who has been involved in a wedding knows the incredible amount of planning and work that it entails. A site must be located, food tested, wedding garments tried on, seating plans ar- ranged, flowers chosen, bands/DJ’s interviewed; countless details decided and changed and rearranged. For better or worse, wedding celebrations are not just the expression of love between a man and woman but are representations of the families being joined in the union. The list of those who are to be invited to a wedding is incredibly difficult to produce. One’s response to a wedding invitation is a statement of approval, not just of the couple getting married, but of their respective families.
Wedding customs are different when looked at over time and between cul- tures and religious backgrounds but the basic understanding of the union of two individuals does not change. The parable Jesus tells in to- day’s Gospel reflects his culture and society. Weddings were celebrations of the entire population of a village. Most of the people in a village would have been in the same tribal family. The idea that a person would not ac- cept an invitation would have been considered shameful. The idea that an invitation, some- thing usually reserved only to family, would be sent out to whomever was met on the “high roads” was equally shameful. But that is ex- actly what is happening in today’s Gospel.
Next week, we will begin a year-long celebration of the 75th anniversary of St. Margaret Mary Parish. Over the years, we and those who have gone before us have responded one way or another to the invita- tion of the Lord to the feast of His Word and His Body and Blood. In this year, you will be invited to join in a special way in the work of our parish. The theme of our anniversary year is “A Pilgrim People Celebrating our Faith”. As we enter the celebration, let us remember that our pilgrimage is our re- sponse to the invitation that calls us into the banquet of the Kingdom.
Wedding customs are different when looked at over time and between cul- tures and religious backgrounds but the basic understanding of the union of two individuals does not change. The parable Jesus tells in to- day’s Gospel reflects his culture and society. Weddings were celebrations of the entire population of a village. Most of the people in a village would have been in the same tribal family. The idea that a person would not ac- cept an invitation would have been considered shameful. The idea that an invitation, some- thing usually reserved only to family, would be sent out to whomever was met on the “high roads” was equally shameful. But that is ex- actly what is happening in today’s Gospel.
Next week, we will begin a year-long celebration of the 75th anniversary of St. Margaret Mary Parish. Over the years, we and those who have gone before us have responded one way or another to the invita- tion of the Lord to the feast of His Word and His Body and Blood. In this year, you will be invited to join in a special way in the work of our parish. The theme of our anniversary year is “A Pilgrim People Celebrating our Faith”. As we enter the celebration, let us remember that our pilgrimage is our re- sponse to the invitation that calls us into the banquet of the Kingdom.
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