In today's Gospel, Jesus tells us about how Heaven is like being invited to a wedding feast. Although many are invited, only a few accept the invitation.
Holy Spirit, fill my heart and illuminate my mind. Help me to hear and understand God's message today. Help me to recognise when God is trying to speak to me in my daily life.
Jesus spoke to the chief priests and 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 he 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."
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlQdr7Iu_to (Credit to Catholic Kids Media)
Say: In today’s Gospel Jesus tells a parable about the kingdom of heaven. He addresses the parable to the religious leaders, people who were fairly confident that they were chosen by God for salvation. Jesus tells the parable to teach us about being invited to be his disciple. Jesus invites everyone to be his disciple. Some people accept his invitation, and some people refuse it.
Say: The king sent out three invitations to the wedding feast.
Ask: Which group of people accepted the invitation and got to enjoy the feast (the first, second, or third group)? (the third group)
Ask: Were you surprised by this? Do you think those who heard the parable as Jesus told it were surprised? (Accept all reasonable responses.)
Ask: How do we accept God’s invitation of salvation? (We must show our acceptance by changing our lives to conform to God's law.)
Pray: Jesus, we have accepted your invitation to be your disciple. Help us follow you to God the Father. Pray together the Glory Be to the Father.
