The 14th Sunday after Pentecost
The king gave a marriage feast for his son. This requires no particular explanation; it is normal for a father to give a marriage feast for his son (the modern American custom of the bride’s family giving the wedding reception is relatively recent). But, when the quests were notified to come, they did not. Even today this would be a shocking insult; no polite person accepts a dinner invitation, even for a less formal occasion than a married feast, and then refuses to attend. And no prudent person would insult the king, of all people, so outrageously.

Такими словами Христос  завершує свою Євангельську притчу, в якій Спаситель образно змальовує історію взаємовідносин між Богом та людьми. В притчі Ісус Христос показує Царя, який післав слуг своїх для того, щоб вони запросили весільних гостей, та останні відмовилися, поскільки  в кожного була поважна причина. Після другого запрошення така сама реакція, більше того на кінець ще й слуг  його повбивали. Почувши це Цар наказав вичубити всіх та спалив їхні міста. Тоді  посилає слуг своїх кажучи : " ідіть на шляхи та перехрестя і запрошуйте всіх кого знайшли злих та добрих".  Весілля поповнилося людьми. Побачивши чоловіка без весільної одежі, Господар карає його кажучи : " вкиньте його в темряву надвірню, там буде плач та скрегіт зубів" (Мф. 22;13).

Господар посилає слуг своїх за винагородою коли прийшов час збирати податок. На що отримав у відповідь побиття своїх слуг, а декого з них було вбито. Тоді Господар цей посилає інших, та з ними вчинили так само навіть гірше. На кінець вирішив послати Сина свого, думаючи що його вони посоромляться. Люди ці думали інакше кажучи, що «це спадкоємець, вб’ємо його і заволодіємо спадщиною» що і зробили.

I was told the story of an old peasant woman. When she was younger she lost her only son, and only child. He was killed in the Second World War. Her neighbours, remembering she had almost idolized the child, thought that she would be inconsolable, and they were astonished when she adopted another son. They were still more astonished because he was a little black boy. She gave him everything that her son had owned. There was no doubt of her love for him. There could be none for those who saw her face, weather-beaten and lined, marked and sealed with sorrow, and yet shining with quiet happiness.

In the gospel today of saint Matthew we read about a young man who approaches our Lord and says “what must I do in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven?" Our Savior says to the young man that he must keep the Ten Commandments and the man said that he is faithful to the Law of Moses. This man is kind of proud about keeping up with the spiritual precepts, and then he goes on and ask “what else must be done in order to enter the Kingdom and have eternal life.” At this point our Lord says something very powerful “go sell everything you have, give the money to the poor and come follow me.” (Mt. 19:21-22)

On the 11th Sunday after Pentecost we hear a parable in which the kingdom of heaven is described as a king who wants to settle accounts with his servants. When one of the servants approaches the King he is unable to pay his debt. Falling down before the king he begs for mercy saying “Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all”. Having compassion the king released him from all his debt obligations. Unfortunately, this servant did not show compassion to his own servants. Finding one of them, he demanded that he be re-paid one-hundred denarii that was owed him. This servant unable to pay fell before him and begged for patience and mercy.

“After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.” (St. Mark 9.2-4)
When Moses and Elijah were with Jesus during His transfiguration on Mount Tabor, they had, in a very real sense, already been transfigured – Moses on Mount Sinai and Elijah in the fiery chariot. Nor were they alone in the changing of their appearances.