It is important to note that the parable in today's Gospel is addressed to the "chief priests and elders of the people". Jesus describes a wedding feast to which the invited guests refused to come. They are the Jewish people, God's chosen inheritance. But, Jesus tells the Pharisees they are free to refuse God's invitation and to refuse to attend the messianic banquet. In that case, the parable says, the Lord will go out into the highways and byways and call into the feast the Gentile people whom the Jewish leaders despised.

One of the striking new features of Jesus' teaching is that God sent Him to save all people - not just the chosen race of Israel. In the first reading, Isaiah hints at this universalism, in which "all peoples" are to be called to the banquet on the holy mountain of Jerusalem. But it was only to be realized in Jesus' own life and mission.

Even today, we see the tragedy - especially in the Holy Land - of factionalism. The Gospel and the Quran both preach tolerance and the universal scope of God's saving love. And yet Jews and Christians and Muslims continue to fight and kill one another in the name of God.

Let us look into our own hearts. In our own small world, do we believe in a God who created and loves all people. Do we have hearts as big as Paul's in the second reading? If not, can we really claim to be disciples of Jesus Christ.?