October 11-12, 2008
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 25:6-10 Philippians 4:12-20 Matthew 22:1-4
Granted, this week’s Gospel is a swat against the ‘people’ amongst whom the Word of God became incarnate…but there is also a powerful reminder that a relationship with God needs to be intentional….not just being swept along with the crowd. In the Gospel parable we hear a story of the King who becomes enraged when those he presumed would come to his celebration, turn on him. A rather nasty vignette of God is offered: ‘He sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.’ Yowzaaa, you don’t want to mess with this guy, he is not all sweetness and charm! As the story continues we hear the King then invites EVERYONE, ‘bad and good alike’ to come to the extravaganza. Well, in opening the door for EVERYONE, bad and good alike, what did he expect? It would be rather naive to think that everyone would be appreciative or prepared for such an event (sort of like people who wear cut-offs, flip-flops or t-shirts to nice restaurants and think they should be allowed in!) but it seems that is precisely what the story-King expected. When the King enters the celebration he discovers an individual dressed inappropriately….which means he did not PREPARE nor be INTENTIONAL in his decision to come to the banquet. When solicitously asked why he is unprepared, the poorly-clad person goes mute…causing the King to have him bound and bounced from the party…into the darkness outside where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth! You might ask…’But doesn’t God accept everyone who comes to him? God isn’t picky is he? You can be an absolute looser and low-life and God will still welcome you to heaven….right?’ God always allows people to have FREE WILL…and if a person FREELY chooses to not respond to his invitations, God allows that person to freely wander off. It is not God’s desire that people wander away…but he does not force someone to respond to him….he does expect an INTENTIONAL choice on the part of those who hear his voice and desire to act on it. Meaningful relationships cannot be accidental or casual, they must be intentional. Faith cannot be casual or just by association…it needs to be individually and intentionally owned, as is symbolized by the fellow having NOT PREPARED for the feast by dressing appropriately. No shoes, no shirt, no intentionality, no salvation?
Thank you for INTENTIONALLY choosing to come and be a part of our Corpus Christi Community on this lovely Autumn weekend. Our thanks and appreciation to all of you who helped last weekend be as splendid as it was…from those of you who helped move and set-up chairs, to the Wine and Food Festival Team, to the worker-bees who cleaned and served and helped…and for all of you came and ate…and danced…and drank…and ate some more! Thank you! Please accept a Bulletin on your way home….some nifty stuff coming up, including The Men’s Leadership Dinner featuring Mr. Peter Bastone, CEO of Mission Hospital on Tuesday, October 21st, Women’s Leadership Dinner on November 18th featuring Shirl Giacomi, the Chancellor of the Diocese of Orange. Our annual Autumn Mass and Hoe-Down at Los Rios Orchard in Oak Glen is approaching on Sunday afternoon, October 26th. Reservation forms are on the Concierge Shelves for all of these events. As the memories of summer fade and jack-o-lanterns start to appear on door-steps, remember, you are loved. FKB
