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Gospel Reading for August 22, 2024 – Matthew 22: 1-14
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
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.”
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The Kingdom of Heaven is open to all because salvation is for all. It abounds with all the graces we need to be saved. Sadly, some of us do not wish to make extra effort to become part of the Kingdom, that is, to follow Christ’s example, and make all sorts of reasons and excuses why we cannot be like him. Some of us procastinate and plan to be good only when our time is near. The problem is, who knows when our time will come? What if our time comes and we are still unlike him? The gift of salvation which would have been within our reach is gone.
Perhaps, the reason for this is because some of us think that following Jesus is LABORIOUS. It requires a lot of sacrifice on our part to be like him and we have to give up things we enjoy to the max because we have to be thoughtful of our family, other people, and even our own health. God does not forbid us to enjoy life. After all, our family, friends and resources all come from him. All we need is to be thoughtful that as we enjoy life, we are not amiss in taking care of our family and people who are in need of our help around us; to bear in mind that we are spiritual beings, therefore, called to a life of dignity; to learn to use all the capabilities and gifts given to us by God for the betterment of the world, of the human race; and do all other good things that will inspire others to do the same. This way, our enjoyment becomes happiness. It isn’t really that difficult to follow Jesus if we truly make an effort. As they say, PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!
As we celebrate the memorial of the Queenship of Mary, we remember that she received her queenship from being the mother of the King Jesus, and for being a loyal member of the Kingdom of God all her life. We ask her to intercede for us that we may be like her as she was on earth!
