November 06, 2012
Tuesday – Year of Faith
St. Leonard of Noblac Memorial
by Rev.Fr. Joseph Feng (Spiritual Director and Orientationer, Lorenzo Mission Institute)
Lunch Mass at Megamall, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord
Reading 1 Phil 2:5-11
Brothers and sisters: Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and, found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 22:26b-27, 28-30ab, 30e, 31-32
R. (26a) I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
I will fulfill my vows before those who fear him.
The lowly shall eat their fill;
they who seek the LORD shall praise him:
"May your hearts be ever merry!"
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
All the ends of the earth
shall remember and turn to the LORD;
All the families of the nations
shall bow down before him.
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
For dominion is the LORD's,
and he rules the nations.
To him alone shall bow down
all who sleep in the earth.
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
To him my soul shall live;
my descendants shall serve him.
Let the coming generation be told of the LORD
that they may proclaim to a people yet to be born
the justice he has shown.
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
I will fulfill my vows before those who fear him.
The lowly shall eat their fill;
they who seek the LORD shall praise him:
"May your hearts be ever merry!"
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
All the ends of the earth
shall remember and turn to the LORD;
All the families of the nations
shall bow down before him.
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
For dominion is the LORD's,
and he rules the nations.
To him alone shall bow down
all who sleep in the earth.
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
To him my soul shall live;
my descendants shall serve him.
Let the coming generation be told of the LORD
that they may proclaim to a people yet to be born
the justice he has shown.
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
Gospel Lk 14:15-24
One of those at table with Jesus said to him, "Blessed is the one who will dine in the Kingdom of God." He replied to him, "A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many. When the time for the dinner came, he dispatched his servant to say to those invited,
'Come, everything is now ready.' But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves. The first said to him, 'I have purchased a field and must go to examine it; I ask you, consider me excused.' And another said, 'I have purchased five yoke of oxen and am on my way to evaluate them; I ask you, consider me excused.' And another said, 'I have just married a woman, and therefore I cannot come.' The servant went and reported this to his master. Then the master of the house in a rage commanded his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame.' The servant reported, 'Sir, your orders have been carried out and still there is room.' The master then ordered the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedgerows and make people come in that my home may be filled. For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.'"
'Come, everything is now ready.' But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves. The first said to him, 'I have purchased a field and must go to examine it; I ask you, consider me excused.' And another said, 'I have purchased five yoke of oxen and am on my way to evaluate them; I ask you, consider me excused.' And another said, 'I have just married a woman, and therefore I cannot come.' The servant went and reported this to his master. Then the master of the house in a rage commanded his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame.' The servant reported, 'Sir, your orders have been carried out and still there is room.' The master then ordered the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedgerows and make people come in that my home may be filled. For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.'"
HOMILY
Are you happy to be invited to a party? Are you happy to be invited to dinner and have something free to eat? Of course, we are happy and excited to be invited.
My dear friends, in the Gospel today, the party refers to the Kingdom of God, the banquet of God. But my friends, being invited to the party is not that easy.
First, in a party, those who are invited must want to attend, and must want to participate. A party is an invitation to those who must want and are willing to be part of the joy and happiness of the celebration. Even though how much the host wants to you to attend, kung ayaw mo na, then the host cannot do anything. Second, a party is a commitment to attend. And those who commit to attend a party are making sacrifices - their time, their willingness to be there and to support the host. Attending a party is a self-emptying experience.
Being a Catholic is an invitation. Being a Christian is an invitation. And to be part of the banquet of God needs preparation. We must be willing to do our best to bring ourselves close to God. God is inviting us all to come. Some may say, "no", some may say "we have our own business". That is why only those who are willing to respond will be able to take part in the Kingdom of God. It is a challenge, but with God's grace this is possible. Life - in love - on earth, is our preparation for life that is eternal. Let us allow God to take control of our lives and transform us, that we may deserve to join the banquet that He has prepared for us in His Kingdom.
My dear friends, in the Gospel today, the party refers to the Kingdom of God, the banquet of God. But my friends, being invited to the party is not that easy.
First, in a party, those who are invited must want to attend, and must want to participate. A party is an invitation to those who must want and are willing to be part of the joy and happiness of the celebration. Even though how much the host wants to you to attend, kung ayaw mo na, then the host cannot do anything. Second, a party is a commitment to attend. And those who commit to attend a party are making sacrifices - their time, their willingness to be there and to support the host. Attending a party is a self-emptying experience.
Being a Catholic is an invitation. Being a Christian is an invitation. And to be part of the banquet of God needs preparation. We must be willing to do our best to bring ourselves close to God. God is inviting us all to come. Some may say, "no", some may say "we have our own business". That is why only those who are willing to respond will be able to take part in the Kingdom of God. It is a challenge, but with God's grace this is possible. Life - in love - on earth, is our preparation for life that is eternal. Let us allow God to take control of our lives and transform us, that we may deserve to join the banquet that He has prepared for us in His Kingdom.
Come to the Banquet of God - Hangad
