Please read the passage before reading the homily.
My sisters and brothers,
What is a wedding without the photographer? Suppose you brother agreed to photograph your daughter’s wedding and he did not show up or offer an excuse: would you kick him out of your family?
Suppose we had a state-wide blackout and your nephews and nieces volunteered to bring enough lighting for the whole celebration and did not bother to come to the wedding: how would you react?
Suppose the custom of the day was that the bridegroom would go to his fiancée’s home to bring her into his home and family. On the way back, he would probably meet his fiancées’ other family members and friends who would want to congratulate him and give him gifts. Hours later, perhaps, he would be coming home for the party. Suppose that the bridesmaids were supposed to supply light for the party with their torches because electricity had not yet been invented. Suppose further that some of the bridesmaids did not have enough fuel for the torches.
What would the village think about the groom who had not provided enough light for all to come and enjoy themselves? After all, this was no ordinary party; it was a once-in-a-lifetime affair and he had not provided enough lighting for the people to see what was going on.
Would the groom be justified in locking those inconsiderate bridesmaids out of the wedding?
Jesus was not talking about some run-of-the-mill everyday affair. He describes a once-in-a-creation affair, and the banquet is the wedding banquet of the Lamb.
We should mark our calendars for the event. We do not know the exact day or hour, but we should mark it important enough to stay ready.