Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2026

Published: October 11, 2026

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor preached the following homily at St. John Church in Engelberg Oct. 11, 2026.

Bishop Taylor

About 40 years ago, I knew I was going to be back in my hometown for a few days, and I heard that a couple of friends from Oklahoma City were going to be there overnight on business, so I invited them to stay at our house rather than at a motel. 

They didn't have to accept my invitation, but they did, so my mother cleaned the house and cooked up a storm in preparation for our guests, but when the day came, they never showed up. I called the place where they had business and was told, “Oh yes, they were here, but they went back to the motel hours ago.” I called the motel and asked what was the deal. 

They said, “Well, it's been a long day, and we just didn't feel like being sociable.” After putting my mother through all the work and expensive preparing for their visit, they just blew it off, and we apparently didn't even merit the courtesy of an explanatory phone call. I had to track them down and even then they never did apologize.

The king in today's gospel had a similar experience, only worse. He had invited people to his son's wedding, and probably spent a fortune on food and drink, but when the day came, the guests never showed up. So the king sent his servants to track them down and asked what was the deal. 

They said, “Well, you know we do have our own business to look after,” but there was obviously more to their response than that, but because unlike my invitation that my friends were free to accept or reject, this was the king. And a king's invitation is really a summons. 

A friendly summons for sure and so also an invitation, but a summons nonetheless, which they were obligated to accept. Their refusal to come when the king called was not merely an act of inconsideration like that of my friends; it was an active rebellion, as can be seen from the fact that they then assaulted and murdered the king's messengers. 

This so enraged the king that he sent his troops to destroy these rebels and burn their city. Their failure to come when the king called turned what was to have been a celebration of love into a bloodbath of hatred and division.

When my friends failed to show, I spent a glum evening eating alone with my parents, and then we froze the abundant leftovers so they wouldn't go to waste. The king in today's gospel had a far better strategy for avoiding spoilage. He invited other people, especially the poor and marginalized, complete strangers, to his banquet, which restored the joy to what otherwise would've been a very gloomy evening. He shared with the poor the joy of his son's wedding.

What about you and me as we celebrate 100th anniversary of your parish? The Lord, our God, creator of heaven and earth is far greater than any earthly king, and he invites us every single week to this banquet of his beloved son in which Jesus serves us his very self, his own body and blood to eat and drink — pours himself out completely for us. 

Notice also that like the king's invitation in today's gospel, Jesus' invitation is really a summons. A friendly summons for sure and so also an invitation, but a summons nonetheless, which we really are obligated to accept. Consequently, unless we have a good reason, the failure to attend Mass every weekend and holidays of obligation is a rejection of God's invitation to the banquet he has prepared for us. This is God after all. This is the faith of the founding families of this parish 100 years ago, a faith which has been passed down to us through all these years. 

Next time you feel like skipping Mass, take a look at the Gospel you just heard and reflect on the consequences of not responding to the Lord’s invitation. The king invited the guests to the feast, but they refused to come. Let’s make sure that we always respond to the Lord’s invitation to this banquet of love which he has prepared for us.