tommyk's blog

Readings for Sunday October 9, 2011                                                                  

Don’t Miss the Invite

I remember how much it hurt.

I was in High School and a friend told me that I was not invited to hang out with him because another person, who didn’t like me, didn’t want me there.

Rejection!! We’ve all faced it. We’ve been the last person chosen for a team at recess. We’ve been ignored at a party. We’ve sat alone at lunch. A friend has turned on us.

That’s why this week’s Gospel is such good news. God invites all people to a life full of friendship. Jesus told this parable to criticize religious leaders of his time who rejected his message. Sadly for them, they missed a feast.

Jesus’ parable has two more important points. Nothing stops God’s party, and he tries to get everyone there.

That’s important to remember if life isn’t much of a party for you at times, because you’re lonely or sad. During those times keep an eye out for God’s invitation. It might come through a parent who wants to listen and help. It might come through another teen who invites you to hang out with a different group of people. It might come during prayer, when warmth, peace, and hope soothe the pain that troubles your heart. It might come during that time you spend reading God’s word.

But the party is going on. Millions of people worldwide have lives filled with friendship. Millions celebrate daily as they make a difference in the world. Though I struggled with loneliness as a teen, I’ve found the party now. During those lonely times, don’t miss God’s invitation.

Enjoy the readings and pass them on!!

Your friend

Tommy

Acts 2:42-47

Reading 1                 Isaiah 25:6-10a

6 On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines. 7 On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, the web that is woven over all nations; 8 he will destroy death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face; the reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken. 9 On that day it will be said: "Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! This is the LORD for whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!" 10a For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.

Explanation: The first reading is taken from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah 25:6-10a. In today's reading Isaiah describes under the image of a great banquet, the blessings, the contentment, and happiness that the messianic kingdom will bring.

Reading II                 Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20

12 Brothers and sisters:
I know how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. 13 I can do all things in him who strengthens me. 14 Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.
19 My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father, glory forever and ever. Amen. 

Explanation: The second reading is from the Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20. The Philippians were the only converts from whom St. Paul accepted any financial help. He is thanking them here for some such assistance which he must surely have needed for he was in prison when he wrote this letter. He assures them that God will reward them for the charitable aid given him.

Question for Discussion:      St. Paul speaks of his contentment. What outside force is likely to upset your contentment?

Gospel                        Matthew 22:1-14 or 22:1-10

1 Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people in parables, saying,
2 "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.  3 He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. 4 A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.” 5 Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. 6 The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. 7 The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
 8 Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come.  9 Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ 10 The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests.  11 But when the king came in to meet the guests, he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. The king said to him, 12 'My friend how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?' But he was reduced to silence. 13 Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ 14 Many are invited, but few are chosen."

Questions for Discussion:

1. Why is this banquet held?
2. Who did the King eventually invite?
3. When did Jesus first call you to his Banquet? How did you respond initially?
4. How would you respond now?

Summary:  The Gospel is Matthew 22:1-14. How foolish the Pharisees were in not listening to our Lord's warnings. He gave them every opportunity to turn away from the false path which their pride had chosen for them. His divine heart was ever ready to embrace them if only they would say "mea culpa." "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets, and stone them that are sent to you, how often would I have gathered together your children, as the hen does her chickens under her wings, and you would not" (Mt. 23:37)? "God created us without our cooperation," says St. Augustine. "But he cannot save us unless we cooperate."

We too could make the Pharisees' mistake. We have the invitation to the wedding feast; in fact, we are already in the banquet hall, since our baptism; but are we wearing the wedding garment of virtue and grace? If not, we are no better off than those who rejected the invitation. The king may come in at any moment and cast out those who are not properly dressed. Being a member of the Church on earth is a wonderful privilege, and a sure guarantee that we will reach heaven, if we do what is expected of us. But the same obstacles which prevented the Pharisees from entering the kingdom—love of this world, its wealth and its pleasures—can impede us too, unless we are on our guard. The world with its allurements is very close to us; heaven seems very far away. Thus we must be prepared to do violence to our ordinary inclinations, to go against them whenever and wherever "the things that are Caesar's" tend to blot out or make us forget "the things that are God's."

This implies a daily carrying of the cross, a daily struggle against our evil inclinations, a daily endeavor to acquire true love of God and neighbor. This may sound superhuman, but Christ did not ask anyone to do the impossible. He led the way, and millions have followed him to eternal glory. He has called us too and has placed within our easy reach in his Church all the grace we need. If we fail to use these divine helps, if we are found without the wedding garment, we will have no one to blame but ourselves. We have been called with the many. We can be among the "chosen."

Excerpted from The Sunday Readings by Fr. Kevin O'Sullivan, O.F.M.