Daily Readings - Sun Oct 15 2017

First Reading - Isaiah 25.6-10a

⁶And the Lord of hosts will cause all the peoples on this mountain to feast on fatness, to feast on wine, a fatness full of marrow, a purified wine⁷And he will cast down violently, on this mountain, the face of the chains, with which all peoples had been bound, and the net, with which all nations had been covered⁸He will violently cast down death forever. And the Lord God will take away the tears from every face, and he will take away the disgrace of his people from the entire earth. For the Lord has spoken it⁹And they will say in that day: "Behold, this is our God! We have waited for him, and he will save us. This is the Lord! We have endured for him. We will exult and rejoice in his salvation.¹⁰For the hand of the Lord will rest upon this mountain. And Moab will be trampled under him, just as stubble is worn away by a wagon

Second Reading - Philippians 4.12-14, 19-20

Philippians

Chapter 4

¹²I know how to be humbled, and I know how to abound. I am prepared for anything, anywhere: either to be full or to be hungry, either to have abundance or to endure scarcity¹³Everything is possible in him who has strengthened me¹⁴Yet truly, you have done well by sharing in my tribulation¹⁹And may my God fulfill all your desires, according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus²⁰And to God our Father be glory forever and ever. Amen

Gospel - Matthew 22.1-10

Matthew

Chapter 22

¹And responding, Jesus again spoke to them in parables, saying²"The kingdom of heaven is like a man who was king, who celebrated a wedding for his son³And he sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding. But they were not willing to come⁴Again, he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell the invited: Behold, I have prepared my meal. My bulls and fatlings have been killed, and all is ready. Come to the wedding.⁵But they ignored this and they went away: one to his country estate, and another to his business⁶Yet truly, the rest took hold of his servants and, having treated them with contempt, killed them⁷But when the king heard this, he was angry. And sending out his armies, he destroyed those murderers, and he burned their city⁸Then he said to his servants: ‘The wedding, indeed, has been prepared. But those who were invited were not worthy⁹Therefore, go out to the ways, and call whomever you will find to the wedding.¹⁰And his servants, departing into the ways, gathered all those whom they found, bad and good, and the wedding was filled with guests

Sermon

In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on God’s universal invitation to His feast and our response to it. The Prophet Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a future where all peoples are gathered on Mount Zion to share in a banquet of rich food and wine, where death and sorrow are no more. This vision is not just a promise of a distant future but also a call to trust in God’s providence and to live with hope, even in the midst of suffering. The Second Reading from Philippians complements this vision by emphasizing St. Paul’s trust in God’s provision, regardless of circumstances. Paul’s words remind us that true contentment comes not from what we have but from knowing that God strengthens us in all things. This trust in God’s plan is the foundation for living a life of gratitude and humility, as we recognize that everything we have comes from Him. In the Gospel, Jesus’ parable of the wedding feast challenges us to consider how we respond to God’s invitation. The king in the parable prepares a lavish feast, but those who are invited refuse to come, choosing instead their own pursuits. This refusal leads to the king opening the feast to all, both good and bad. The parable reminds us that God’s invitation is universal, and it is our responsibility to respond with openness and humility. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How do we respond to God’s invitation in our own lives? Do we allow ourselves to be distracted by the cares of the world, or do we prioritize the feast of life that God offers us? Let us strive to live with gratitude for God’s gifts, trust in His providence, and openness to His call. May we humbly accept His invitation and share in the joy of His kingdom, both now and forever.