-Last Sunday's homily is available Click Here: October 5th Homily
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at Sunday readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at LinC Letter
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 5:30pm Saturday, 8:00am and 6:00pm Sunday
Are You In?
The parable of the King and his Son's Wedding Feast is a great opportunity for us to reflect again upon the single most important aspect of the Kingdom of God - participation. The choice to live life according to God's gift of the Kingdom is at the heart of this parable and the others we've heard in the last few weeks from St. Matthew.
Remember the workers in the vineyard. The Master wasn't worried about over-paying people for too little work. He was only concerned that everyone worked - felt welcomed to participate in his mission - his vineyard.
The King's Son's Wedding adds something to this Lord's insistence that we participate in order to have life. It is not good enough for us to show up at the wedding - we have to indicate our sincerity by dressing (externally manifesting our faith) the part. The wedding garment seems to symbolize ones willingness to get "cleaned up" - "dress the part" - "conform our behavior" to that which is appropriate for the Kingdom life.
This goes back to the parable of the two sons.....talk about being "in the Kingdom" or "with the Lord' is cheap. Our life in the Kingdom must be accompanied by a converted life. Remember, the prostitutes and tax collectors "changed their minds" and "cleaned up their lives" at the teaching of John. We cannot accept the invitation to the wedding feast of heaven and stay in our "work clothes" or "play clothes" or "self-centered outfit".
The master wants nothing more than our participation in the communion of life and love which is salvation. But we have to be willing to conform to the life of heaven by the grace of Jesus' invitation.
Are you in? Just in words? Or by the sign of your converted life?
6 comments:
I am reminded of a time when I had to write an alimony check. I never did it in time. It rankled me. Now however, even though I can tithe automatically, I love the physicality of writing the check. It reminds me that I belong and am vested in my faith.
missing your video homily preps.
I like this reflection on participation and showing the connection it has made among the Gospels over the last few weeks. I think it is one of my favorite themes of Christian living. And then this reflection on the wedding garment and how it is related to our participation was inspiring to me. As I read it, I thought about an example of a married couple and how their enthusiasm for their relationship shows up in their "appearance". I think we've all witnessed this. You may know a couple to be married - they show up together, they wear their wedding rings, they "do life" together - but their attitude with each other also tells part of the story. It almost serves as the "finishing touch" on how they are perceived as husband and wife. From their attitude with one another, others can sense a contentment, a mutual regard of love and acceptance.
It strikes me the same as the appearance our participation can take in our work in the Kingdom. As we work to serve others in the name of Jesus, as we share our faith with others, as we praise and worship God - our attitude will be reflected in the way we go about it; it will serve as a finishing touch. And the question will be - how does that look? Will there be a hue of love and joy coloring my participation - or will my participation be tainted by a lack of heart being poured into what I say and do? That finishing touch tells part of my story.
Very helpful feedback. Very well said
I agree heartily with you Father: very beautifully written VF, very inspiring.
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