28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A - 15/10/2023 - Gospel: Mt 22: 1-10
Excuses
We often make excuses; some are legitimate; others are not so. We make excuses when we are preoccupied with things in this world. When our heart obsesses with things of this world; we listen to the voice of the world; and heavily engage in world affairs. When our heart desires the heavenly thing; we listen to the voice of God and give time to serve God and God's people. This is the invitation; Jesus tells us to take it seriously. This universal invitation causes problems for some, caused by the error of their judgment. When a thing is available for everyone; we tend to see that it is cheap, and has not much value. It may be true for things of this world, but not true for having faith in Jesus. Not having faith in Jesus is poor judgment. Refusing to be guided by God's love will mean being led by something else less than God; it is human knowledge driven by personal ambition. Because faith in Jesus is available for everyone; that makes some believe that Jesus' call is not an urgent call because it is available all the time. The risk of this approach is that we don't know when our time is up. It is better to be ready. Any delay in responding to his call is a fatal mistake.
Faith in Jesus means to love and trust him. Without his guidance, one would see the purpose of life differently. That person remains at the world's level. Those who follow Jesus will be lifted up to be children of God. They are free from the power of darkness. The heavenly kingdom is available for those who love to have it, not because faith in Jesus is cheap, but simply because our loving God is extremely generous. His blood on the cross redeems and purifies our lives. No one can deny the reality of death and sickness. Some prefer to deny the reality of the heavenly home because it is unknown. Jesus reminds us that it doesn't matter how much we deny the existence of the heavenly home; it doesn't mean that heaven doesn't exist. The heavenly kingdom exists even before our own existence. How can we deny what had already existed before the birth of mankind? It makes no sense. What we can do is make choices: good choices and poor choices. We make poor choices when we fail to prepare ourselves for our heavenly home. This true home is in God's house, but it begins right here now; because God's Son lives in this world.
Faith in Jesus is available for everyone, who accepts his spiritual poverty. This recognition, through God's grace, is a self-revelation because that person acknowledges that whatever s/he owns comes from God. S/he is only a steward of God's gifts given to take care of, cultivate, and share these gifts with others. Sharing by means of glorifying God is understood as a wedding garment in today's parable. This wedding garment is a ticket to remain with others, and enjoy the wedding banquet the king offers. The wedding garment is truly a gift from God. We are free to choose to wear it. We choose to wear it by having the spiritual banquet on earth, and that is the Eucharist. We need to go to the Eucharist with a clear conscience and a repentant heart. We give thanks to God for the gift of life. By receiving his Body; we are fed with his boundless love; by receiving his Blood; we receive the good wellspring everlasting life. His Body and Blood unite us with him, and with those who share the same faith, receive the same cup, and sit at the table fellowship at the Eucharist. The heavenly banquet requires us to wear a wedding garment that is to live humbly before God, to love God sincerely, and to provide service to others.
Faith in Jesus means to love and trust him. Without his guidance, one would see the purpose of life differently. That person remains at the world's level. Those who follow Jesus will be lifted up to be children of God. They are free from the power of darkness. The heavenly kingdom is available for those who love to have it, not because faith in Jesus is cheap, but simply because our loving God is extremely generous. His blood on the cross redeems and purifies our lives. No one can deny the reality of death and sickness. Some prefer to deny the reality of the heavenly home because it is unknown. Jesus reminds us that it doesn't matter how much we deny the existence of the heavenly home; it doesn't mean that heaven doesn't exist. The heavenly kingdom exists even before our own existence. How can we deny what had already existed before the birth of mankind? It makes no sense. What we can do is make choices: good choices and poor choices. We make poor choices when we fail to prepare ourselves for our heavenly home. This true home is in God's house, but it begins right here now; because God's Son lives in this world.
Faith in Jesus is available for everyone, who accepts his spiritual poverty. This recognition, through God's grace, is a self-revelation because that person acknowledges that whatever s/he owns comes from God. S/he is only a steward of God's gifts given to take care of, cultivate, and share these gifts with others. Sharing by means of glorifying God is understood as a wedding garment in today's parable. This wedding garment is a ticket to remain with others, and enjoy the wedding banquet the king offers. The wedding garment is truly a gift from God. We are free to choose to wear it. We choose to wear it by having the spiritual banquet on earth, and that is the Eucharist. We need to go to the Eucharist with a clear conscience and a repentant heart. We give thanks to God for the gift of life. By receiving his Body; we are fed with his boundless love; by receiving his Blood; we receive the good wellspring everlasting life. His Body and Blood unite us with him, and with those who share the same faith, receive the same cup, and sit at the table fellowship at the Eucharist. The heavenly banquet requires us to wear a wedding garment that is to live humbly before God, to love God sincerely, and to provide service to others.
Written by Fr Vũđình Tường
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia
