A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 22:1-14
(Glory to you O Lord!)
Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and the 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 the king 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.
He 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.”
The Gospel of the Lord (Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ!).
Reflection: Many are invited, but few are chosen.
The invitations have been sent out and all are invited. The messengers in the gospel reading were all the prophets who were sent to remind us to be faithful to God, to turn away from sin, to love and care for one another, to live lives that lead to holiness until the day that we are all called by God to himself.
Many have heeded God’s call, following His teachings and the commands to care and love one another, as well as their neighbors, while others … have unfortunately chosen to ignore the invitation and teachings of God, and have chosen to follow their own ways, and some have even made the prophets and messengers suffer, being martyred to their deaths.
Knowing that we are unable to choose a life of holiness on our own, our heavenly Father sent us our Lord Jesus to be our model of what love truly is, to teach and to guide us through His spirit within all the faithful … on how to truly love God and our neighbors, and follow His ways, to truly love one another with humility and kindness.
Brothers and sisters! Many are invited, but few are chosen. God encourages us to change our ways and to follow the daily promptings to holiness by his Son. There will be a day of reckoning where all the faithful who have on the wedding garment – which is the Holy Spirit in their hearts … will be allowed to enter the heavenly banquet, while the ones who have chosen to follow their own ways will not be able to enter. Heed the invitation of God to the Heavenly banquet for His Son, our Lord Jesus. May we all change our ways and follow the daily promptings of Jesus to choose holiness for the rest of our earthly lives.
Action for the Day:
In silent prayer, reflect upon the events that occurred within the last 24 hours. Share our gratitude to God for all our blessings, especially for all that went well throughout the day. Take note of of all our tendencies and shortcomings that we need to change, and lift them up to God. Lord Jesus, thank you for always being with us. Thank you for all the blessings you’ve given us. Thank you for being so kind and patient and always there to guide us. Help us to overcome all our selfish tendencies, to choose your ways of holiness and generosity, to truly forgive one another, and give us the strength to humbly share the kindness of your love to all. This we pray in your most Holy name, Amen.
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