Gospel Thought for Today
20th August Memorial of Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church
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.
The Mass intention is for Patricia and Michael K’s Intentions.
Reflection:
“Many are invited, but few are chosen”. These were the closing words in today’s Gospel where Jesus told a parable about a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. Unfortunately, the invited guests were found “not worthy to come” to the celebration so the king instructed his servants to gather anyone they find “bad and good alike”. Who are the chosen? St Jerome commented “The chosen are those who accept the call and do not reject the invitation, like the first guests, or who do not accept it fully, like the man who comes to the dinner but does not dress in the proper manner”.
Our God is not someone distant from us. He came to be with us in the person of Jesus Christ. Hence, He is inviting us to a personal relationship with Him. This relationship finds its climax in the wedding feast in heaven. It is up to us to either accept the invite or decline it. If we do accept, we need to be dressed in a wedding garment. What is this wedding garment? St Paul tells us, “clothe yourselves with heartfelt mercy, with kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and forgive whatever grievances you have against one another” (Colossians 3:12-13).
- Our faith-response to God can be expressed through our participation in the life of the parish. What holds you back from being involved?
- Despite Covid-19, how do you keep yourself involved in the parish?
- St Bernard of Clairvaux, whose feast day we celebrate today, said, “A saint is not someone who never sins, but one who sins less and less frequently and gets up more and more quickly”. How does this apply to your relationship with God?
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word today. Through the example and prayers of St Bernard of Clairvaux, grant us perseverance in accepting Your call and putting on the garment of love as we look forward to the wedding feast in heaven. Amen.
Fraternally,
Pietro
