Today is the 19th Sunday after Pentecost. It is a lovely day for us to start our week right. Today’s readings cite our continuous response to Christian renewal, and the gospel reminds us of our worthiness of the wedding feast, the Eucharist, which we celebrate every Sunday.
The epistle, taken from the letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians, is a reminder to all about how we shape ourselves as followers of Christ, being transformed disciples. “Transformed disciples” means that our character and personality must mirror that of Christ. Inspired by St. Augustine’s experience on how he changed and was converted for Christ, there is hope for everyone. His old self is what he recognized and surrendered to Christ and authentically progressed to walk with God’s grace. His conversion of mind and heart were the two essential actions to experience complete transformation.
St. Paul says, “Brethren, be ye renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, who according to God is created in justice and holiness of truth.” This is how God afforded us the ability to be spiritually renewed by frequently spending time for prayers and meditation, reading the scriptures and constant communication with God with an open heart. Our spiritual strength guarantees our ability to renew the world as well. This is our way to sanctification, which means a process by which we work along with God to become more like Jesus Christ. It is our total resignation that we seek spiritual transformation, which certainly follows good works and active participation in good things.
Are you consistent to open your heart and mind to be renewed and transformed by moving away from your old self? Take advantage of the many resources God has been giving you for your spiritual growth. Keep growing and seek God’s grace for your renewal, and ask God to help you so you will see that growth.
The gospel from St. Matthew narrates to us the parable of the wedding feast. Our concept of God’s kingdom is like a wedding feast. There are so many invited people, including the attendants, the entourage, the groom and the bride. God is the King, and his son is the bridegroom. The bride is the Church. The attendants are righteous people who have prepared themselves to be in the presence of God. The man not properly dressed symbolizes the sinners.
If you read the earlier verses of the gospel, you learn that Jesus explains how God sent His prophets to His chosen people, the Israelites, but they were mistreated and killed. God was angry due to the Israelites’ rejection of His goodness. Thus, He decided to also invite to the Kingdom of Heaven all the other nations and people, like the gentiles, besides the people of Israel.
In this parable, the people on the main roads are the people who have heard and valued the invitation of God to His kingdom. However, one of the discussion points is the man who did not have on a wedding garment. What is the wedding garment? How do we understand this man’s eviction from the wedding feast and “cast him into the exterior darkness?”
Brothers and sisters, the wedding garment symbolizes the state of being prepared in our hearts to know, to love and glorify God all the days of our lives. It is the state of our interior life that we truly evaluate and check. We are invited by God; and we must heed His call of repentance so that we are ready to embrace His holy presence.
On the final day of judgment, we will be assembled, and He will isolate all those who are not prepared, meaning unrepentant, those who refused to believe in Him and those who are indifferent and passive by their own decision. The true King will send them to the fiery furnace where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
Today, we realize that the patience of God has been afforded to us. Let us be prepared always for the last day when Jesus Christ, the King, will come to gather those of us who are worthy of His presence to join Him in the Kingdom of Heaven, while those who do not have the “wedding garment” will have the time to stick to the core mandate to know, to love and to serve Him. Let us always glorify His name in all we do.
Therefore, a changed lifestyle is necessary to give us an assurance of our final destiny and to avoid the choices of the world, participating in sensuality and corruption of body and soul. Do these activities of viewing, listening, reflecting and evaluating our lives which lead us to holiness.
God bless you.
Fr. Arlon, osa
