PREPARATION FOR GOD'S CALL - 10/15/23 (Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

From the Gospel according to Matthew

Mt 22:1-14

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people

in parables, saying,

"The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king

who gave a wedding feast for his son.

He dispatched his servants

to summon the invited guests to the feast,

but they refused to come.

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."'

Some ignored the invitation and went away,

one to his farm, another to his business.

The rest laid hold of his servants,

mistreated them, and killed them.

The king was enraged and sent his troops,

destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.

Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready,

but those who were invited were not worthy to come.

Go out, therefore, into the main roads

and invite to the feast whomever you find.'

The servants went out into the streets

and gathered all they found, bad and good alike,

and the hall was filled with guests.

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, 'My friend, how is it

that you came in here without a wedding garment?'

But he was reduced to silence.

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.'

Many are invited, but few are chosen."

REFLECTION: 

“Many are called, but few are chosen.” This is what the Gospel says today. Each of us is called by God in a special way. But the sad reality is that not all people can respond to God’s call effectively. People fail. Parents whose vocation is the sacramental marriage and family life could hurt their children. Priests and religious people may have their shortcomings. Amidst all these, who wins in the end? The one who perseveres, prepares, and puts on the wedding garment. The Holy Mass is God’s holy banquet, and we are all invited to it. Thus, the effects of the Holy Mass should not be contained within the sacrament alone. Rather, it should extend outside the church where we become bearers of Christ’s light for others. We must do good works and speak good words – what will help our fellowmen. The wedding garment could symbolize our new identity in Christ where we let go of our old selves. In shedding out the former self, we embrace the authentic Christian life centered on the works of mercy. It comes with the decision to change what is unholy in us. To receive God’s full gift and graces in the sacraments, we must be willing to be transformed by God and leave sin behind as many times as it requires. We must continually renounce the world and materialism to do this.

When we do not prepare or make efforts to cultivate our faith, we miss out on the importance of salvation God offers us. Our salvation was bought by His Most Sacred Body and Blood. First, we experience and receive this through the sacraments then, it must bear fruit in our vocation and mission. If we don’t recognize this, our life enters a drought because of ignoring the call of God. His call is the greatest thing that could ever happen in our life as is a wedding - the greatest feast in one’s life. By God’s grace, may we choose God amidst the fleeting pleasures that the world offers. May we be the ones who are called and also chosen by God because we respond with our whole hearts and will to abide by the plans of the Lord for us. Amen. +

- Marga de Jesus

Source:

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/word-of-the-day.html

Amen +

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with us always until the hour of our death. Amen. +

May the Lord + bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. +  

The Interior Journey Toward God:

Reflections from Saint Teresa of Ávila

https://mycatholic.life/books/the-interior-journey-toward-god-reflections-from-saint-teresa-of-avila/

Saint of the Day – Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor:

https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/october-15st-teresa-of-vila

(Not celebrated as a liturgical memorial this year since it falls on Sunday)

Examination of Conscience and Guide to Sacrament of Confession:

https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/examination-of-conscience/

Ultimate Catholic Parents Guide:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ls6IcexZAls

Summary and Defense of Catholic Teachings:

https://www.catholic.com/tract/pillar-of-fire-pillar-of-truth