Today’s reading features the chilling story of Jephthah’s fateful vow, culminating in his sacrificing his only daughter as a burnt offering. And in the Gospel, an ill-clad gent is flung into the outer darkness. The Bible is chock full of such hair-raising anecdotes that kept yours truly agog as a young impressionable lad, cueing the burning question-on-the-lips and raised eyebrow. How does this jive with the traditional image of a kindly grandfather God, smiling paternally on us and from whom all good blessings flow?
Bewailing Virginity
Jephthah’s daughter is a compelling figure, meeting her father’s despairing tale of woe with utter docility, rooted in her love for God and her earthly father. She begs for a stay of two months, which her hapless father is only too keen to grant. Does she then fritter this in a spree of dissipation? Think again. Instead, she gathers her closest friends and heads up the mountain to mourn her virginity. It is so impressive that this life, about to be snuffed out in the prime of its youth, teaches us how to gracefully mourn and sacrifice all aspirations, hopes, dreams and yearnings and channel them into a sacrificial offering, a tragic, beautiful Amen to God. In her martyrdom, we see a magnificent prelude to our Lady’s fiat, captured in today’s responsorial psalm: Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will.
Wedding Garment
My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?
This parable of the king, the ungrateful guests, and the wedding banquet can likewise leave us a tad disquieted, shifting uneasily in our seats and wanting to turn the page. On reflection, this is the age-old story of a faithful God and his fickle followers. God invited the Chosen People and fast forwarding not a little, ends up inviting Everyone to the wedding feast. But there will be a Final Judgement. And I have a feeling that when faced with the Maker and His Question, we too will be reduced to silence. Our only redeeming hope is to be clothed in Christ. Without Him, we haven’t a prayer and we’ll be joining today’s Gospel protagonist at the gnashing table.
Many Are Invited
The moral of today’s parable, per yours truly, is that Paradise is not a gimme. Not everybody who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven (Mat 7:21)
In the final reckoning, our only hope is to cling to the hem of Jesus’ tunic.
God sends out His messengers constantly in priests, consecrated, men and women religious, friends, families, co-workers, news anchors and neighbors. All of them repeat his invitation to the wedding feast. How then can we prepare for that trip up the mountain to meet Him face to face? The means are closer than we think. For He has left us His sacraments, which enable us to live a life extraordinary. When we are born, baptism elevates us into God’s family. As youngsters, we prepare and receive Communion, Confirmation and Reconciliation. When older, we can opt for the service sacraments of Marriage or Holy Orders. And when we reach the end of our life, like Jephthah’s daughter, we have Anointing of the Sick which gives us the grace to face eternity with equanimity.
What’s the resolution, you ask? Easy. Wash and starch that wedding garment.
Great job Patrick. Got a chance to read and ponder on it only now and am thoroughly inspired.
God bless you and your family.