(EPISODE: 255)
Readings for 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time - A
FIRST READING: Isaiah 25:6-10a
Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6. "I shall live in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life."
SECOND READING: Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (cf. Eph 1:17-18). Alleluia, alleluia! May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of your heart. That we might see how great is the hope to which we are called.
GOSPEL: Matthew 22:1-14 or 22:1-10
shutterstock licensed image: stock illustration ID : ID: 48691415. A long table with a lot of plates with food at a banquet. By Dmytro Khlystun
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Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Twenty-eighth Sunday of the Year. Year A - Sunday, October 11, 2020 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ordinary-28a-episode-255/s-4brMnfGoAjT (EPISODE: 255)
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PROLOGUE: - *28a [Gospel values included in the readings: We are deeply reassured that God walks with us to protect us and accompany us through all the highs and lows of life. We are in good and faithful hands. God's invitation is for all, but not all will accept it. Avoid apathy and distraction]
In Our Lord's time, wedding invitations went out well in advance and were accepted definitively. The final call, just before the event occurred, was a mere formality. It would be an unspeakable insult to decline when the final call arrived. They had already accepted and had made already their firm commitment. They miss out! And so, the master sends out messengers to the highways and byways. That is, to everyone, respectable or not. All are invited. From now on, the invitation is being made, (not to a select and exclusive minority of privileged people), but in the wider public forum - to ALL people. All who respond are welcome. There is no special preference anymore. Sinners, outcasts, Gentiles and Jews were all invited.
All of us are truly blessed to be invited but we might have tickets on ourselves if we think we can presume that we deserve a permanent place without responding to it. (It is a reminder that in this modern day and age one hears a lot of stories of people who have invited others to a party or a function and many accept but then don't turn up or cancel at the last minute, or others don't reply but turn up, causing great distress to their hosts. The old-fashioned courtesies still apply).
This parable reminds us, the invitation is for all, but the invitation can be refused. The Kingdom is open to all but guaranteed to none. We don't earn the Kingdom but we sadly can decline it; which would be madness!
And one final thought. The waifs and strays enter the banquet but then one gets kicked out for not wearing a wedding garment. It seems unfair at first glance. However, the invitation is for all, but acceptance means a change of standards and values symbolized by being clothed in the garment that resembles and represents the Baptismal Garment of goodness and Christ-like living.
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Homily by Fr Peter Dillon:
Throwing lavish parties has been put on hold over the past year, mostly because of restrictions of numbers allowed at gatherings, but also because people have had other more important things on their minds. The customary wedding receptions and 21st. birthdays have been replaced by virtual computer gatherings on Zoom or live streaming of events to people sitting comfortably in their homes. Who would have imagined how we would become familiar with those technologies, let alone holding events of celebrations using them? Such is the way when life changes unexpectedly and how we have discovered new ways for unusual times.
But let's try to remember the days when we had a milestone that need to be celebrated. We would fix a date and location and draw up a list of guests to help us celebrate this significant event, maybe even get invitation printed to highlight the importance of the gathering. You would send out the invitations and await the responses, full of expectation of a gathering of family and friends to share in your joy.
Usually there were three types of responses that people can make to such invitations.
Some would accept your invitation with pleasure, giving you a sense of happiness, while others may have accepted out of obligation, nevertheless they had thought enough of your invitation to honour you and let you know that they were grateful to be included. They may be there with a little hesitation, but at least they weren't forgotten.
Others may have politely declined your invitation, often for very good reasons. Still the non-acceptance may have left you feeling somewhat disappointed, even though they may have had a prior engagement on the date in question. Perhaps you might even assume that others may not have been interested, but at least they have acknowledge that they won't be attended and sent the usual pleasantries by letting you know.
The last way of responding is the most disappointing of all. No replying at all. You wait and wait but nothing arrives. Some people even call up to check if the invitation arrived at all, giving people every opportunity to offer some explanation. When people refuse your invitation you know where you stand with them. Even though it may have slipped their mind, they still haven't shown you any respect or appreciation at being invited in the first place.
But when there is no reply you are left wondering what's going on. Have you inadvertently done something to offend them, or you realise they don't think enough of you to go to the courtesy of letting you know of their ability or otherwise.
Are you starting to see where Jesus is going with today's parable?
The image of the wedding banquet in our first reading from Isaiah describes the blessings God wishes to bestow, not only on Israel, but on all nations, while Matthew's account takes up Isaiah's promise being fulfilled in Jesus: through him all people are invited to the banquet feast in the Kingdom.
Well, you have received a similar invitation and how did you respond? It doesn't compel us to accept it and is not a command. We are not invited out of guilt or obligation, and nor are we expected to respond in the same way. There are no gimmicks or pressure, just an invitation freely given, but with the hope of a positive response. Some of us might be waiting to see if a better offer arises, or we're not sure if we have to time or commitment to attend. We are busy people with lots of choices open to us. Why is this invitation so special? We might be unsure why we've been asked and are leaving our options open to see who else might be invited as well. Perhaps our lives are so busy, that we can't see where we can fit God in, and God doesn't ever push his way in unless we are ready to respond.
But what are we invited to? Why is God asking us to be part of the celebration? It's not an invitation simply to come to Mass or one of the other sacraments, although that may be a consequence of saying yes in the first place. It's not even a call to be baptised, but again, this may follow. The first invitation is to live a full and authentic personal life here on earth. A calling into an intimacy with him, which can be often experienced through a participation in a community of like-minded invitees.
The invitation challenges us to abandon our isolationism, our exclusivism, our self-sufficiency and to be willing to share and associate with others and to collaborate with them, to be part of the party, if you will. And, of course, in the final analysis, it's a call to eternal life. But are we ready, prepared to attend and accept?
To ignore the invitation altogether is the worst form of refusal, not simply because it insults the host, but it denies us any chance of knowing what we have missed out on. There is no specific rsvp date, but don't leave it too late unless the doors to the celebration might be closed.
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly
Bergant, D. and Fragomeni, R. (2001). Preaching the new lectionary. Year A. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press.Cronin, G. (2003). Celebrating the Gospels. 1st ed. Liguori, Mo.: Liguori. 372-3,
DeBona, G. (2013). Between the Ambo and the altar. Year A. 1st ed. Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press. 263-266
Gutiérrez, G. and Dees, C. (1997). Sharing the Word through the liturgical year. 1st ed. Maryknoll: Orbis Books. P. 239-40
shutterstock licensed image: stock illustration ID : ID: 48691415. A long table with a lot of plates with food at a banquet. By Dmytro Khlystun
Twenty-eighth Sunday of the Year. Year A (Sunday, October 11, 2020) (EPISODE: 255 )
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
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{{peace and compassion to you}}
Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
Lord Jesus, you are mighty God and Prince of peace. Lord have mercy// You are Son of God and the Son of Mary. Christ have mercy// You are Word made flesh, the splendour of the Father. Lord have mercy.
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation
1. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
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PREFACE: own preface
Eucharistic Prayer IV
Communion side. pwk: LH
(theme variation: 1 )
(pre+post variation: 3)
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{I am very grateful for you joining us for this special time of prayer and reflection.}
Go forth, the Mass is ended.
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Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com
To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
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Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly
Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)
Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)
"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers.
Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993) . (Sydney Australia).
Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" - By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria, Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org.
- "Faith, Hope and Love" theme hymn - in memory of William John Kelly - Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.
"Quiet Time." Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.
- "Today I Arise" - For Trisha J Kelly. Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.
[ Production - KER - 2020]
May God bless and keep you.
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