Banquet at the Destination

Advent 2024: A Pilgrimage of Hope - the Commission of the Journey!

First Wednesday in Advent - December 04, 2024

Isaiah 25: 6-10; Matthew 15: 29-37

The commissioning of a journey, with its destination desirable and attractive, becomes a sign of hope for everyone who looks up to it. But its desirability and attraction have to be true, not just an appearance or a delusion. On our pilgrimage of hope, we have our destination clear – the Reign. And it is definitely attractive and unquestionably desirable. Not just that, it is also a promise and guarantee… everyone, without any discrimination, is called to that destination where a banquet is prepared for all! All are entitled to this banquet of the Reign, but first of all they have to enter the Reign, enter the banquet hall. That signifies three levels of requirement to be fulfilled:

The first level is Desire; as the responsorial psalm guides us, we ought to develop a desire, a longing, a yearning for the house of the Lord. Unless that desire exists, and is expressed, one cannot make it to the banquet.

The second level is Decision; as Isaiah indicates the banquet is rich and is prepared, it is ready and it is inviting. But it depends on us to reach there, to enter in there. This who were with Jesus, ate the bread from the hands of the compassionate Lord – yes, those who were with Jesus! They had to be there to partake of the banquet. That is a decision, on the part of every individual.

The third level is Dedication; because it is not easy to reach the Reign or enter the banquet. They journey towards, is tough and dry. It takes endurance and perseverance to reach the destination – that is why it is a pilgrimage of hope.