Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time(Click here for readings)
Jesus said 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."
The kingdom of heaven. What is the kingdom of heaven? In his masterpiece book, "Jesus of Nazareth," Pope Benedict explains: The kingdom is not a thing, it is not a geographical dominion like worldly kingdoms. It is a person; it is he...[and] by the way he speaks of the Kingdom of God, Jesus leads men to realize the overwhelming fact that in him God himself is present among them, that he is God's presence."
God is among us.
They refused to come. As the parable states: "The King dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come... Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business."
Once again, as Pope Benedict XVI explains: "At the heart of all temptations, as we see here, is the act of pushing God aside because we perceive him as secondary, if not actually superfluous and annoying, in comparison with all the apparently far more urgent matters that fill our lives."
Have I filled my time with other matters and no longer have time for prayer, fasting, almsgiving and works of mercy?
Well, the feast goes on...with or without us.
God knows how to throw a party, regardless of who ends up coming. The banquet is ready. The menu is set. The food is rich. The wine is of the choicest vines. All we need to do is show up.
On this occasion, 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!" (cf. Is 25: 6-10a).
Who is this LORD? And where is his cathedral? It is Jesus. And the mountain is his cathedral. It is his preferred place of prayer, preaching and performing miracles.
God doesn't need much.
I know how to live in humble circumstances. St. Paul, in following Christ's lead, leads by example: "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... I can do all things in him who strengthens me."
(cf. Phil 4:12-14, 19-20).
St. Paul is telling his people: I don't need much.
What is his secret?
I know how to live with and without because...
a. I know how to pray. Do what St. Paul always did: He constantly reflected on the life of Christ and was creative in applying Christ's life to his life. This motto was simple: It is no longer I who live in me but Christ who lives in me.
b. I know what's important in life. Do you know what is important and what is not? Life can be so confusing and so distracting. How can we stay on track? What can we do? Last week St. Paul told us what he does: "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious..." keep doing it!!! "And the God of peace will be with you."
c. I know what's the meaning and purpose of life. Do you know why you exist? Do you know the purpose of your life? Do you know what you have been called to be? It's not complicated. It's not confusing. It's pretty straight forward. We have all been called to be...
another Christ.
How we should live is the same as how we should love.
d. I know that I can do all things in Him who strengthens me. I don't need to be the CFO or CEO or CIO or CTO or CSO or CCO or CKO or UFO or anything big, tall or impressive to get God's attention.
The Lord didn't need much to lead. St. Paul didn't need much to lead. We don't need much to lead.
We should all know the secret by now: I can do all things in Him who strengthens me.
It's time we, Christians, let the secret out.
It's time to share some very Good News.
Excellent meditation Father. There is one puzzling detail though, You stated, "All we have to do is show up." But what about the wedding garment? Don't we after receiving the initial invitation (grace), have to "put on the wedding garment." The King asks, "My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?'
ReplyDeleteAnd what is the wedding garment? Is it a well developed moral and spiritual life? If we simply accept the invitation, but don't live in accord with the Church, we may be no better than those that don't respond to the invitation at all. It appears that we need the wedding garment to come "in here" (heaven). I could be way off though.
One thing I think is clear from the Gospel, however.
1) That our Lord is relentless in his offer of grace to all of us. He wants everyone to be included. He never writes anyone off. So neither should we.
2) The consequences for us failing to respond to the divine invitation are severe.
"The king was enraged and sent his troops,
destroyed those murderers, and burned their city...Bind his hands and feet,
and cast him into the darkness outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth."
We need to get up and get dressed!