28th Sunday in Ordinary Time(Cycle A, Year I)
Community Word:Obedience to God’s will keeps us growing in holiness.
Theme: We grow in holiness when we heed God’s invitation to commune with Him.
Promise: “God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”(Phil 4:19)
Reflection:
In the gospel for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, we find a description of a wedding feast where only invited guests may come. In the book of Isaiah, this banquet is described as “a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.” (Is 25:6b). Such imagery symbolizes the kingdom of heaven, a celestial banquet of God’s salvation and eternal happiness.
The parable being narrated by Jesus focuses on two things: first is His invitation to the kingdom of heaven, and second is our response. It is out of God’s benevolence and graciousness that we are invited to be in His kingdom. He calls those who are invited to understand that the kingdom of God is a feast, a celebration, and to come without delay so as not to miss the joy and the holiness offered to those who answer the call. Such is as our community word for the month which says: Obedience to God’s will keeps us growing in holiness. Our response is aptly stated in our theme for the week: We grow in holiness when we heed God’s invitation to commune with Him.
As BLD members, we manifested our clear “Yes” to God’s call when we accepted the invitation to join the Life in the Spirit Seminar, the various renewal and encounter programs, the discipleship formation program and teachings, attend the weekly worship and word sharing circles, and participate in the various mission works for the poor. With steadfastness and complete trust in the Lord, we continue to journey in faith despite physical, emotional and financial obstacles and difficulties. All because God assures us in this week’s promise: “God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with His glorious riches in Christ Jesus,” (Phil 4:19). And that, we “can do all things in Him who strengthens” us (Phil 4:13). All are invited to enter the kingdom of God even the broken, frail and with moral infirmities. The church is a mixture of saints and sinners. Bad and good people alike are given the opportunity to respond to God’s invitation because, though we are all imperfect and undeserving, it is by His mercy and grace that He keeps heaven’s doors open to all. He reaches to us because He understands our human weakness. Jesus desires all people to be saved and to share in the glory of God. But to be in the feast requires preparation, that is, there must be a personal conversion. As in the parable, to be dressed in a wedding garment means to change one’s lifestyle, from worldliness to holiness, to accept that Jesus is the Son of God and our Savior, to believe in His resurrection, to live the moral and ethical values, and to follow His gospel messages and be converted. Jesus wants our full conversion in complete acceptance of His mercy and love.
Sinners are invited but they are expected to repent, to turn away from sin and begin to live a transformed life doing good deeds. The “wedding garment” refers to a true discipleship in following Christ, rather than an uncommitted membership.Those who refuse to repent and change are left out in darkness away from the light, hope and joy of messianic blessings. Our Lord Jesus searches even in the byroads seeking for conversion of every person, even to the extent of dying on the cross so that the entrance to the heavenly banquet is opened. While in His infinite wisdom and love He respects our freedom, nonetheless He exhorts us – Trust in Me for I have the best plans for you!
Prayer:
O loving Jesus, transform my heart that I may readily obey You when You call, to follow You without any hesitation, to trust in Your word even if I cannot fully understand, for Your word is truth and life. Today, like Mama Mary, I say “yes” to You, my Lord. I say “yes” to Your love and will for my life, knowing that only in obedience will I be able to journey well into holiness and rest in Your love and inner peace. Amen.
Reflection Guides:
1. Think of an instance in your life when you were invited to join an important religious activity or program and you willingly said “yes.” Describe the blessing when you said “yes” to Jesus’ invitation.
2. What are the forthcoming activities in your community that you believe you will be able to “fully partake in the heavenly banquet tendered by Jesus?”
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
October 15, 2017 (Sun)-Is 25:6-10/Ps 23:1-6/Phil 4:12-14, 19, 20/Mt 22:1-14
October 16, 2017(Mon)-Rom 1:1-7/Ps 98:1-4/Lk 11:29-32
October 17 2017(Tues)-Rom 1:16-25/Ps 19:2-5/Lk 11:37-41
October 18, 2017(Wed)-2Tm 4:10-17b/Ps 145:10-13, 17, 18/Lk 10:1-9
October 19, 2017 (Thur)-Rom 3:21-30/Ps 130:1-6/Lk 11:47-54
October 20, 2017 (Fri)-Rom 4:1-8/Ps 1, 2, 5, 11/Lk 12:1-7
October 21, 2017(Sat) -Rom 4:13, 16-18/Ps 105:6-9, 42, 43/Lk 12:8-12
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
