Sunday Gospel

Give God Ourselves, Wholeheartedly

Matthew 22:1–14

Photo by Alabaster Co Unsplash

Jesus again in reply spoke 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.

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 he 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.
The king 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.”

Reflection

How many times have we refused an invitation to attend a special event hosted by our friends?

How many times have we attended these events but were not prepared and dressed up properly for the occasion?

In the Gospel this week, we are reminded by our Lord Jesus to always be ready for God’s Kingdom.

The world today pre-occupies us with many non-essentials.

Our true treasure is found in God’s eternal Kingdom and with Him only can we find true peace.

We are constantly invited by God to follow Him and obey His will but oftentimes we refuse to respond or do it half-heartedly.

The choice is ours.

God’s call and love will constantly be there. We should respond to Him wholeheartedly.

Ave Maria!