October 10th 2011: Sunday Gospel Reflection

Matthew 22: 1-14

God lovingly created each person so that each of us might love God in return and be the happiest we can be! In the Old Testament we hear stories about how God created covenants (or pacts) with His Chosen People, the Jews (Abraham, Moses, Noah, etc.). God promised that He would never leave them and always help them if they were faithful to God.

When God sent Jesus into the world he created a New Covenant (or pact) which was not meant just for one group of people but for everyone. Jesus told his followers that He came into the world so that all people might have new life in Him.

In today’s Gospel Jesus tells a parable (or story) about this New Covenant. He tells a story about a King who invited his friends to a wedding party for his Son, but none of them came, they rejected the invitation. As a result the King invited others to the wedding party who might not normally have been invited because they were slaves, poor or didn’t seem to ‘fit in’. Like the King, Jesus invites each one of us, every person to be His follower and to share His life in the loving arms of God.

Will we say ‘yes’ to God’s invitation to us not only in our words but in our actions? In the parable one of the people who said ‘yes’ to the invitation did not show respect for the wedding party by wearing inappropriate clothes. He made a decision that meant he wasn’t able to stay at the party.

We are invited to be in covenant relationship with God. This means (like any relationship) that we have to be good friends of God by loving Him and our neighbors. When we are not good friends of God it is like we are walking away from Him. God is always ready to welcome us back if we turn back toward Him.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

-How does God want me to be faithful to our Covenant? (living as an active member in the Church, following the commandments/beatitudes, golden rule, etc.)

-Do I believe that every person is created by God and has equal dignity in God’s eyes?

-Who are people who I don’t like or who I don’t have respect for?
-What can I do this week to show them the love God has for them?