All Are Called, Few Come

This gospel today speaks to me in a profound way.  Have you ever planned a really special party.  It's likely that in planning, you carefully select the date, time and place.  The invitations go out and you wait to receive the RSVP.  You strive to make everything special for your guest.  So, on the day of the party you tidy up and create an inviting atmosphere with beautifully coordinated table cloths, napkins and utensils with theme centered pieces for the tables.  You want it to be a joyful and peaceful time of fellowship, so you take care to ensure all things are in place.  Then as the time gets closer you anticipate the arrival of your guest, but, only a few show up.  You gave it your all.  Everything was prepared perfectly and could not have been any better.  How disappointed you must be when only a few find it important enough to join you for dinner.  You say you understand when your guest say, "I really was so very busy, sorry I could not make it", but, do we really understand?
Well, how sad God must feel when he goes all out to prepare the perfect place for us in heaven.  A place inviting and beautiful.  A place of love, serenity and peace prepared just for us for all eternity, but, we don't think it's important enough to be there.  We've been invited to the wedding feast, a banquet like no other.  Jesus invites us to partake in the Eucharist where he meets us fully in his body, blood, soul and divinity.  He wants us to become one with him.  To freely embrace his love and mercy in the sacrifice of the Mass in the Eucharist.  This was his last and everlasting covenant given freely to us, our salvation from eternal death.  Why is it that we find it unimportant to show up?  Why would anyone forgo a life everlasting for all eternity in exchange for what this world offers? In my view of my life and of the world it's because of our prideful and selfish nature.  Creatures that take for granted the wonderful gift that we have been given because the world creates a rose colored illusion of what our purpose in this earthly life is all about. Flailing around, going about our lives without a real purpose, ignoring all of the invitations to live eternally with God in heaven, because, we have little faith in the truth revealed to us by God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  We are invited by Christ to partake of the Lord.  To live an active spiritual life, living a life of faith that is lived out through prayer, meditation and contemplation through the Word of God.  Mine and I believe without reservation our purpose for this life is to love God, to know God and to serve God with the one goal to become holy saints of God and to live for all eternity in heaven with him.  Through prayer, love and humility, the fruits of full communion with our God in the Eucharist we are changed and that change is revealed in the person of Christ himself who equips us with the love and fortitude to feed his sheep and build up the kingdom of God.  For it is through love, mercy and forgiveness of our neighbor that he will be revealed to those who have lost their way or who have never known him.  He is calling you, will you be wearing your wedding garment to the feast? Will you forsake this world for the beautiful place God is preparing for you?  Or, will you accept His invitation?  Will we freely and quickly accept the invitation? 

    
Gospel:  8/18/2011   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.”