https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101120.cfm
Here I am trying to lose weight and I have to preach about feasting!
We have gone from discussing the vineyard the past few weeks right into a wedding feast. We are done working in the vineyard and now get to reap the rewards of our labors at a banquet … with God … in Heaven! Well, some still refuse to attend the feast and Jesus is not afraid to point that out to the chief priests and elders since their hearts are still hardened. Lately, the Parables of Christ are really zoning in on the Chief Priests, the Elders, the Scribes, and the Pharisees.
Today’s Gospel is actually two parables in one - that’s right, bonus parable this weekend! The first is the parable of those who were invited to the wedding feast but refused to attend, some of the invitees even killed the servants who invited them. Glad I didn’t have to deal with these folks when I planned my wedding 31 years ago. Since these invited guests didn’t want to attend, the king opened the wedding feast to all, good and bad alike, and filled the hall with those people.
The second parable is about the man who snuck into the feast but wasn’t dressed properly, he didn’t have on a wedding garment so he was cast out.
That’s what I want to focus on, how to dress for the heavenly banquet so that we can get in? If I do this I won’t be preaching about feasting and my diet can stay safe!
Regarding how to dress, Jesus isn’t talking about what clothes we wear or if we are up to the latest fashion trend or not. Jesus is talking more about how we dress our souls. Paul mentions how to dress in his letter to the Ephesians when he states:
Ephesians 6:13-17
Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all [the] flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Put on the strength of the Holy Spirit when it comes to speaking about your faith. Don’t fear telling others the truth of the Catholic faith but always do it in love, not by putting others down.
Be humble also, and that doesn’t mean weak. It means putting others' needs before yours when appropriate. Wear a humble demeanor and allow that to show instead of wearing arrogance or pride.
Paul talks of knowing how to live in humble circumstances in his letter to the Philippians today. Currently, with everything going on, a lot of us are learning to live a bit like this. On the contrary, in Heaven, we will always have abundant circumstances instead of humble ones. We will have a feast laid out before us, a feast more generous than we can imagine as the first reading from Isaiah states:
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.
We are experiencing a very small dose of heaven here today at Mass.
Pope Saint John Paul II describes the Mass as “Heaven on Earth” saying that “what we celebrate on Earth is a mysterious participation in the heavenly liturgy”.
Sitting in the church shouldn’t be the first time you hear the readings. Find time to be quiet and reflect on the readings for Sunday prior to Sunday. Reflect on what they are saying to you. Where are the readings trying to set you straight? Ask yourself, are you in line with God in every aspect of your life. If not, correct that part, dress that part of your life for the wedding feast. Prepare that part of your life for when you attend Mass, the wedding feast of the Lamb here on earth.
Think about the words of St. Gregory the Great when he stated:
“The heavens open and multitudes of angels come to assist in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.”
Well done.
ReplyDeleteThank you worthy Deacon!
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