Time and time again the Lord our God has called us to greater holiness. To deepen our relationship with Him. To be transformed by the outpouring of His grace so that we can live our life to the full in Him. And to be powerful instruments of His love and grace. How have we responded?
No time! More important things to do. Business/work to attend to, family or friends. Or have we instead killed the spirit of those loving souls who tried to lead us closer to Jesus? By our harsh rebukes even name calling.
Even today the Lord invites everyone, saints and sinners alike to the Eucharistic Celebration. So that He can replace the heart of stone within us with one of flesh. To share in His divine life. Have we put on the wedding garment?
Or have we instead come to spite Him? By our blatant disregard for our Lord and King in the way we dress, act and speak? Ears and mouth shut with hearts closed and aloof. Mobile phones in hand, having personal discussions while the wedding supper of the Lamb is going on. We have everything to lose and nothing to gain by our behaviour.
Thank you sweet saviour my lord, Jesus Christ. For giving me the opportunity to partake in the bread of life daily. For Your love and grace outpoured each time. Now and forever. Amen
First reading
Ezekiel 36:23-28
I will remove the heart of stone from your bodies and give you a heart of flesh
The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows: ‘I mean to display the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned among them. And the nations will learn that I am the Lord – it is the Lord who speaks – when I display my holiness for your sake before their eyes. Then I am going to take you from among the nations and gather you together from all the foreign countries, and bring you home to your own land. I shall pour clean water over you and you will be cleansed; I shall cleanse you of all your defilement and all your idols. I shall give you a new heart, and put a new spirit in you; I shall remove the heart of stone from your bodies and give you a heart of flesh instead. I shall put my spirit in you, and make you keep my laws and sincerely respect my observances. You will live in the land which I gave your ancestors. You shall be my people and I will be your God.’
Gospel
Matthew 22:1-14
Invite everyone you can to the wedding
Jesus began to speak to the chief priests and elders of the people in parables: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a feast for his son’s wedding. He sent his servants to call those who had been invited, but they would not come. Next he sent some more servants. “Tell those who have been invited” he said “that I have my banquet all prepared, my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, everything is ready. Come to the wedding.” But they were not interested: one went off to his farm, another to his business, and the rest seized his servants, maltreated them and killed them. The king was furious. He despatched his troops, destroyed those murderers and burnt their town. Then he said to his servants, “The wedding is ready; but as those who were invited proved to be unworthy, go to the crossroads in the town and invite everyone you can find to the wedding.” So these servants went out on to the roads and collected together everyone they could find, bad and good alike; and the wedding hall was filled with guests. When the king came in to look at the guests he noticed one man who was not wearing a wedding garment, and said to him, “How did you get in here, my friend, without a wedding garment?” And the man was silent. Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot and throw him out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen.’
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