by Fr. Ed Liptak, SDB
Ever since Moses the Mountain of God has held a favored place in Sacred Literature. It is where God dwelt as He gave the basis of the Law to Moses. Therefore, it is not strange that Isaiah fails to identify the mountain he keeps mentioning in our first reading on this 28th Sunday ‘A.’ For him It is the new dwelling place of God, Mount Zion, Temple of the living and consoling, almighty, good God. And it is now our Church’s plea from the altar mount that this same God’s strength won by Jesus Christ go ‘before’ and ‘after’ us, enabling us to “to carry out good works” till we reach eternal life.
We see our Church, God’s newest dwelling place, as the mountain through which, as Isaiah says, God gives “A feast of juicy rich food and pure, choice wines.” For us, it is Our Lord Jesus Christ, who “On this mountain will destroy death, the veil that veils all peoples.” And Isaiah continues, “This is the LORD for whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.” Isaiah’s is the Godly voice that translates so easily from Old Testament Temple to New Testament Church.
The Psalm throughout and St. Paul are once more our intensifiers. In our struggle to walk in God’s way Psalm 23 claims, “I fear no evil. For you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage.” For us Jesus is the Good Shepherd. We who follow him hope to live in the house of the Lord all the days of our life now and forever.
St. Paul to the Philippians lets us in on his secret of survival on his often-trying journey. “I can do all things in him who strengthens me,” he tells us, and “My God will fully supply whatever you need in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” If only God granted us some of Paul’s confidence!The Gospel calls: “Everything is ready; come to the feast.” Come; enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The Father will tolerate no pale excuses. We and many, the good and bad, are all invited to the celebration, for his Son has wedded divinity with humanity to redeem us. We come, but we must come in the wedding garment of grace. For Jesus and for us there is a final reality: “Many are invited but few are chosen.” Oh, keep us, Lord, amid the chosen.