Author: admin

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Gospel: Matthew 22: 1-14

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.

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Did you ever show up to school without doing your homework?

To me it was the worst feeling ever, as if the entire day was over before it began.

Even if I knew I didn’t do it, I’d still turn my bookbag upside down and give it a good shake pretending it’d magically fall out.

My teachers were never fooled. 

They knew as well as I did that I was simply unprepared. Still, I tried to provoke mercy out of them by making excuses.

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In the Gospel, Jesus uses a parable to describe the end of the world, and thus, the final judgment.

There are two groups: those who are permitted to attend the eternal banquet and those who are not. Each person is judged by a sole criterion: whether or not they’re wearing a wedding garment.

We might say, whether or not they’ve done their homework.

The white wedding garment symbolizes a pure heart. Anyone who’s stained their lives with impurity or sin cannot enter.

It sounds harsh. It is harsh.

But the Gospel reminds us about the importance of living holy lives.

Meaning, we go to confession; we attend Mass; we read the Word; we pray; we make room for God in our daily lives; we serve Him in our neighbor.

We do our homework.

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Whatever it takes to make sure we arrive at the banquet dressed appropriately, where there is a seat saved for anyone who has desired it – and lived accordingly.

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Image credits: (1) NeverThirsty (2) ThoughtCo (3) Endofthematter.com

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Ezekiel 34: 1-11

The word of the Lord came to me:
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel,
in these words prophesy to them to the shepherds:
Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the shepherds of Israel
who have been pasturing themselves!
Should not shepherds, rather, pasture sheep?
You have fed off their milk, worn their wool,
and slaughtered the fatlings,
but the sheep you have not pastured.
You did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick
nor bind up the injured.
You did not bring back the strayed nor seek the lost,
but you lorded it over them harshly and brutally.
So they were scattered for the lack of a shepherd,
and became food for all the wild beasts.
My sheep were scattered
and wandered over all the mountains and high hills;
my sheep were scattered over the whole earth,
with no one to look after them or to search for them.

Therefore, shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
As I live, says the Lord GOD,
because my sheep have been given over to pillage,
and because my sheep have become food for every wild beast,
for lack of a shepherd;
because my shepherds did not look after my sheep,
but pastured themselves and did not pasture my sheep;
because of this, shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
Thus says the Lord GOD:
I swear I am coming against these shepherds.
I will claim my sheep from them
and put a stop to their shepherding my sheep
so that they may no longer pasture themselves.
I will save my sheep, 
that they may no longer be food for their mouths.

For thus says the Lord GOD: 
I myself will look after and tend my sheep.

The Word of the Lord.

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Today is a day to pray for priests – that we may be worthy shepherds, that we may lead our communities to Christ, that we may stand humbly before the judgment seat of God, ready to offer an account for our ministries.

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In our first reading from the Book of Ezekiel, the Lord condemns the shepherds of Israel. 

“Woe to the shepherds of Israel,” he says, “who have been pasturing themselves! … You did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick nor bind up the injured. You did not bring back the strayed nor seek the lost, but you lorded it over them harshly and brutally.”

These religious leaders were out to serve themselves. 

And consider the result.

“My sheep were scattered for the lack of a shepherd, and became food for all the wild beasts.”

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These words remind me of two things:

The responsibility that the Lord places on the shoulders of priests – to act in His name, to celebrate the Sacraments, to lead, to govern, to heal, and to serve. 

And the trust that the sheep – God’s people – rightfully place in their leaders.

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Let’s pray for all who serve God’s people, myself included, that we may devote ourselves to what matters most: leading souls to Christ, the Shepherd of us all.

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Image credits: (1) St. Catherine of Siena Academy (2) ShareCatholic.com (3) Psephizo

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Gospel: Matthew 19:23-30

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich
to enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Again I say to you,
it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said,
“Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said,
“For men this is impossible,
but for God all things are possible.”
Then Peter said to him in reply,
“We have given up everything and followed you.
What will there be for us?”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you
that you who have followed me, in the new age,
when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory,
will yourselves sit on twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters
or father or mother or children or lands
for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more,
and will inherit eternal life.
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Samuel Johnson, an 18^th century author, once visited a friend’s estate in the English countryside. After seeing all of the ornate rooms, Persian rugs, and priceless paintings on the wall, he said:

“These are the things which make it difficult to die.”

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Jesus never says it’s impossible for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Riches are not a sin.

But Johnson reminds us that riches are a danger, because we can easily become attached to them, valuing earthly things more than heavenly things.

For example, think about how we might feel if we woke up tomorrow morning and our house was downsized; our closet cut in half; our bookshelves emptied; and our car ten years old older.

It’d be shocking! Some of us might be saddened by it. I know I would be. I like my little home and creaturely comforts.

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Meanwhile, there are families who cannot make ends meet; refugees seeking shelter; children who haven’t eaten since yesterday. 

Or even the day before.

This doesn’t mean that we have to turn our lives upside down and sell everything we have. But we should do what we can.

As Saint Paul says, “God loves a cheerful giver.”

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In what ways do I share my blessings with others?

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Riches are not a sin. But they are a danger.

Like Samuel Johnson, if we find ourselves feeling a little too attached, then perhaps it’s time to part with some of our riches, sharing them with those in most need. 

After all, God loves a cheerful giver.

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Image credits: (1) LinkedIn (2) Architectural Digest (3) SoulFully You, WordPress