The 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2020

This weekend is Saturday the 10 and Sunday the 11 October, beginning the Twenty Eighth Week of Ordinary Time.  

Ex Cathedra, directed by Jeffrey Skidmore, sing Hanaq Pachap Kusikuynin (pron: Hanak Pachap Kus-y-queen-in), a hymn in the Quechua language of South America, a beautiful prayer which I might make my own as I listen now: “Bliss of heaven: a thousand times I adore you.  Tree of uncountable fruits.  Hope of the peoples.  Pillar of the weak.  Listen to my prayer.”  

This week’s readings have all, in one way or another, shown us how we are to behave in relationship to God and one another. Jesus taught us to call God Our Father – a close, intimate relationship with the One who created us. But Jesus also made clear that prayer wasn’t us simply saying things to God. Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to His words, she was open and receptive. Being receptive and open to the promptings of God in life helps us to be open to others, to be a good neighbour to others, to show them the love and the care the Samaritan showed for the poor man on the road. This weekend’s reading from the Prophet Isaiah gives us some idea of what this is all aiming towards, what we’re trying to reach.  

Isaiah 25:6-9

On this mountain, the Lord of Hosts will prepare for all peoples a banquet of rich food, a banquet of fine wines, of food rich and juicy, of fine strained wines.  On this mountain he will remove the mourning veil covering all peoples, and the shroud enwrapping all nations, he will destroy Death for ever. The Lord will wipe away the tears from every cheek; he will take away his people's shame everywhere on earth, for the Lord has said so.  That day, it will be said: See, this is our God in whom we hoped for salvation; the Lord is the one in whom we hoped.  We exult and we rejoice that he has saved us.  

God, speaking through his prophet, spreads before us a picture of the Kingdom as a great feast. How do you feel as you hear it?  What held your attention in the description?  How do you react to the images and words?  

Now dwell for a moment on a particular image or description.  Give it space in your imagination – don’t hurry it.  What does it evoke in you?  What does it make you want?  

Listen to the reading again.  Do you want to be there, to take part?  

Let your feelings about this reading be expressed to God.  Tell him what this scenario makes you desire.  

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.