Sunday, October 11, 2026

TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

(Isaiah 25:6-10; Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20; Matthew 22:1-14)

We see another parable in today's Gospel. Perhaps it's better to say we see two parables. The first is the story of the banquet a king held for his son's wedding. The second takes place during the banquet when a man arrives without a wedding garment. It seems separate from the main story because it has a different purpose. Before we look closely at these stories, let's review our knowledge of parables.

The word parable means comparison. To understand something unknown, the parable teller compares it to something well known. For example, to discover the greatness of the Kingdom of God, Jesus says it is like a pearl of great price. Parables can be as short as a phrase or even a word or as long as the story of the prodigal son. Jesus was a genius at telling parables, whether short or long. His parables captured people's attention. But more importantly, they moved people to reconsider their approach to life. Take the parable of the Good Samaritan. A teacher of the Law asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Then Jesus tells the parable of the Samaritan who saved the life of the man attacked by robbers. Jesus asks the teacher who the man's neighbor was. The teacher, who undoubtedly hated Samaritans, had to admit that the neighbor was a member of the hated people. Upon hearing this parable, we must rethink our approach to the peoples we resent.

In today's Gospel, the parable of the king's banquet is a very similar allegory to last Sunday's parable. The king is God. The wedding banquet is the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven where Jesus accepts the Church as his bride. The first servants are the prophets, and the second are the apostles. The invited guests are the Jews who refuse to accept Jesus as God’s Messiah. Finally, the people on the roads are the non-Jews, the Gentiles, who accept Jesus and are baptized. The purpose of the parable is to say that for the most part, it will be only the Gentiles, and not the Jews, who will enjoy the banquet of the Kingdom.

The second parable tells of what happens during the banquet. The man who enters the banquet without wedding clothes is thrown out. “That’s not fair,” we might think. “He was probably so poor he didn’t have a wedding garment.” However, the excuse is invalid because wedding clothes were readily available. The wedding garment represents the good works that are required to have a place at the banquet in heaven. Even if a person is baptized, a place at the heavenly banquet is not guaranteed. They must feed the hungry and visit the sick, et cetera to enjoy eternal life.

Those who want to watch football or soap operas seven nights a week should pay attention to this parable. Yes, rest and recreation are necessary for our natural life. However, it is also necessary to help those in need to have eternal life. Yes, marriage is necessary to satisfy our carnal desires. However, it is also necessary for married couples to support each other emotionally and spiritually. Likewise, both must cooperate in raising their children.

Life is complex. We often want to navigate it by doing what most people do. Unfortunately, most people do what is comfortable and convenient, not what has eternal value. Jesus told parables to shake us out of this complacency. They show us God's ways that lead us to the heavenly banquet. They are not as difficult to live as we think, because we have Jesus as our guide's companion.

Friday, October 9, 2026

 

Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

(Galatians 3:7-14; Luke 11:15-26)

In today’s first reading St. Paul warns the Galatians about “works of the Law.”  He is not talking about good deeds done to benefit others.  Rather he has in mind the physical rites of Judaism like circumcision and continual ablutions.  He says that these are unnecessary and even counterproductive in light of Christ.  What saves people – he implores -- is faith.  He will expand that remedy later in the letter -- “faith working through love.”

In the gospel Jesus preaches along the same line. He tells the crowd gathered as he drove out a demon the story of a similar expulsion.  He says that when an evil spirit is driven out, it looks for an opportunity to reenter the poor soul along with companions.  When the victim tidies up his soul with physical trappings but no works of charity for God’s sake, the demons attack.  They march in like locusts in a wheat field to cause more harm than before.

Physical trappings for us may be wearing a rosary around our necks and continual genuflections in front of the altar.  These actions are not bad in themselves, but they lack the power to save.  Only as much as they foster “faith working through love” can they lead us to God’s Kingdom.

Thursday, October 8, 2026

 

Thursday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

(Galatians 3:1-5; Luke 11:5-13)

People often wonder why God does not seem to answer their prayers.  After all, Jesus promises in today’s gospel that the one who asks, will receive.  To illustrate what he means, he adds that one has only to knock, and the door will be opened to her.

Jesus has also just told a parable indicating that the prayer must be persistent.  The neighbor asking bread is not assisted until he repeatedly makes the request.  Persistence indicates the person’s need that a request be granted.  More importantly, it shows the faith of the petitioner in the goodwill of the one asked.

Persistence is not always required.  God often grants a request that is sincerely made.  We should not hesitate to ask for anything that is truly beneficial and needed.  As Jesus indicates, our Father in heaven is anxious to help us.

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

 Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary

(Galatians 2:1-2.7-14; Luke 11:1-4)

In his wartime memoir, Flight to Arras, Antione de Saint-Exupéry compares the concentration of a Dominican friar at prayer to the intensity of Louis Pasteur looking through a microscope.  Saint-Exupéry wants to emphasize that although both postures seem to be passive, in truth neither is.  Both contemplative and scientist are fully alive although neither makes any outward movement.  In today’s gospel Jesus exhibits the same fullness of purpose as he prays to the Father.

As he does often in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is seen praying.  His prayer attracts the attention of one of his disciples.  The understudy asks Jesus to teach him and his cohort how to pray.  Jesus then relates a shortened version of what is known as the “Our Father” or “The Lord’s Prayer.”

When we are at prayer, it is all too likely that what Jesus says with intensity, we pass over without much thought.  We must make more effort to take Jesus’ own words to heart.  “Our Father” – God loves us as much as any father has loved his child. “Hallowed be they name” – we love you in turn so much that we want his fame spread throughout the world.

Tuesday, October 6, 2026

 

Tuesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

(Galatians 1:13-24; Luke 10:38-42)

As much as people look for God, God is finding them.  Both readings today testify to God calling on people.  In the first reading St. Paul tells how he was persecuting Christians when the resurrected Christ appeared to him.  Since it is the personal testimony of someone who saw the risen Lord, the account is of significant apologetical value.  However, Paul does not elaborate about what happened beyond saying that it led to his proclamation of Christ to Gentiles.

In the gospel Jesus visits Martha and Mary in their home.  They are evidently friends as Martha does not hesitate to complain to him.  Indeed, they seem to be such good friends that Jesus can correct Martha’s crankiness without reservations.  Meanwhile, Mary knows that when the Lord comes, people should drop everything to listen.  No matter if dinner is ready on the stove or if the dryer buzzer has just rung, Jesus deserves full attention.

Jesus comes to us especially in the Eucharist.  But he also arrives throughout the day at unexpected moments.  He may say something important to us through the friendly mail carrier.  Or perhaps when we face a setback, he will console us if we offer a prayer instead of a curse.  He is always near and will make himself apparent if we open ourselves to him.