28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time are:

1. Isaiah 25: 6-10a
   
2. Psalm 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
   
3. Philippians 4: 12-14, 19-20
   
4. Matthew 22: 1-14
   

• Finding abundance
  
• God's blessings are never "just enough" but overflowing.  The wine at the wedding at Cana, the left over bread at the feeding of the five thousand, the care that Jesus showed to the outcast, the marginalized, and the forgotten.
• Do you think that God's abundance applies to this life as well as the next?
• How has God blessed you abundantly?
• When was the last time that you shared that blessing with others?
  

• Living in the house of the Lord
  
• Community within the Church is sometimes hard to see.  We don't live in a designated area of the city, we don't wear distinctive clothing, we don't eat special food, and we can be found in almost every line of work imaginable.  So what defines us?
• A friend comes to you and tells you that they want to become Catholic.  Of course you know to direct them to the RCIA inquiry team, but your job is not done there.  You ask why they would want to do that.  What might their answer be?
• If they were to ask you "what is the hardest part of being Catholic"?  What would you say?
• Is it worth it?
  

• Transcendent contentment
  
• Your cellular provider wants to make sure that you are not settling for merely adequate service.  They don't want for you to be content with anything less than the service that they can provide.  But God calls us to a contentment that goes beyond mere goods and services.
  
• Are you content with your life now?
• Would you still be content if there were significant changes in your life?
• What do you base your contentment on?
• What is the minimum in your life that you need to be content?
  

• Come to the feast
  
• Getting things done when we expect to get to them, in the way that we expect to do them, by the time that we hope to get them done is the definition of happiness for some.  Not for others though.
• Have you ever been surprised by God?  Something that came into your life totally unexpected that you had to make room for in your life?
• What did you have to set aside to make room for that?
• How did you decide that this new opportunity was from God?
• Would you do it again?
  

• Preparation for Reconciliation
  

1. Where is God inviting me to appreciate His blessings?
   
2. How am I celebrating the community of believers that I find myself in?
3. Where is God calling me to find His contentment in my life?
   
4. Where is God calling me to enjoy His abundance?

A Place at the Table

I came to the wedding feast at the appointed time. 
Gift in hand, I was tastefully dressed  as befit the occasion.

I found myself seated next to a total stranger.
Which did not surprise me, given how different he was.

I could tell his wedding garment was thrown over much meaner garb.
His hair had no sheen of fine oil the way that mine did.

He kept looking around, gazing at what must have seemed endless splendor to him.
For my part, I began to wonder when the wine would make its appearance.

He turned to me and said "I so appreciate being invited.
The groom and I used to play together as children."

I concluded that our host's family had come up in the world since then.
Where is that wine?

He went on "this family has been generous to my village for years,
Helping us when crops were poor, sending in seed for the planting."

I could hardly imagine why my host would bother, it's just one lonely village.
But, I suppose, that's the glory of wealth, you can spend it however you like.

Trumpets blasted, cymbals clashed, doors thrown open, and the bridal party appeared.
Our host came in with the bridal party, dressed unaccountably simple.

Suddenly, his hand was on my shoulder, his face stern.
"My friend, you have not donned the attire that I gave you."

"Instead, you have chosen to flaunt your good fortune, set yourself apart.
You are not clothed in humility.

This feast is for those able to see abundance in all blessings,
See past the surface riches that this world chases after.

I'm afraid you do not belong here.
Please allow my servants to attend you to the door."

Not welcome!  Well, there was no reason for me to put up with such treatment.
I only regret that they didn't serve that wine sooner.

Shalom!