INVITATION TO THE LORD'S BANQUET

 

Homily for the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Biblical Texts: Proverbs 9:1-6; Ephesians 5:15-20; John 6:51-58

The readings for this 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, extend to us an invitation to the Lord’s banquet. This banquet is not just a mere gathering; it is a divine feast where God offers us the fullness of life, wisdom, and eternal nourishment. The invitation is free and is extended to all, regardless of our status or past, inviting us to partake in the richness of God’s grace.

In the first reading from the Book of Proverbs (Proverbs 9:1-6), we are presented with the image of Wisdom, personified as a woman who has prepared a great banquet. Wisdom’s house is built on seven pillars, a symbol of completeness and perfection. She has prepared her food, mixed her wine, and set her table, ready to host those who seek understanding. The invitation is extended particularly to “the simple,” those who lack wisdom or who have strayed from the path of righteousness: “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and live, and walk in the way of insight” (Proverbs 9:5-6).

This invitation to Wisdom’s banquet is symbolic of the deeper spiritual truth that God is constantly inviting us to partake in his wisdom and to lead lives that are rich in purpose and understanding. It is an invitation to leave behind foolishness and to embrace a life that is aligned with God’s will. In our contemporary lives, this could mean turning away from the distractions and superficial pursuits of the world/material things and focusing on what truly nourishes our souls-our relationship with God.

The Gospel reading from the gospel according to John (John 6:51-58) draws a direct connection between the divine banquet of Wisdom and the Eucharist, the ultimate banquet to which we are all invited. Jesus declares, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world” (John 6:51). Here, Jesus invites us to the most profound banquet of all, where he himself is the food that nourishes us eternally. The Psalmist invites us to taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7).

The Eucharist is the fulfillment of Wisdom’s banquet. In the Eucharist, we do not merely receive bread and wine; we receive Jesus Christ himself- his Body and Blood, soul and divinity. This sacrament is the source and summit of our Christian life, where we, the body, are united with Christ, the Head in a unique and intimate way. The invitation to this banquet is one that requires a response of faith. Just as Wisdom called out to the simple, so Jesus calls out to each of us, inviting us to a deeper relationship with him through the Eucharist.

The invitation to the Lord’s banquet is a call to action. It is not enough to simply hear the invitation; we must respond. In the second reading from Ephesians 5:15-20, St. Paul exhorts us to “be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise” (Ephesians 5:15). He urges us to be filled with the Spirit, making the most of our time and understanding the will of the Lord. This reading ties together the wisdom offered in the first reading with the nourishment provided in the Eucharist. To accept the invitation to the Lord’s banquet is to live a life that reflects the wisdom and grace we receive from God.

In our daily lives, this means making choices that align with God’s will, seeking his guidance in all things, and striving to grow in holiness. It also means recognizing that the Eucharist is not just a ritual we participate in on Sundays, but the very sustenance that empowers us to live out our faith every day. We are called to be witnesses to the love and grace we have received, inviting others to join us at the Lord’s banquet. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How am I responding to God’s invitation? Am I seeking the wisdom that comes from above, or am I distracted by the noise of the world? Am I truly nourishing my soul with the Body and Blood of Christ, or am I content with less?

May we have the grace to accept God’s invitation fully, to partake in his divine banquet, and to live lives that are worthy of the calling we have received. Let us remember the words of Jesus, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them” (John 6:56). This is the invitation to eternal life, a banquet that never ends.