Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 12, 2008

“Many are invited, but few are chosen.”
Matthew 22:14

Reflection
This vision of the kingdom of heaven, a king struggling to get guests to come to the wedding feast for his son, has always seemed severe.  Didn’t the guests consider it an honor to be invited to the king’s palace?  Did they not like the king and his son?  Why was the king so severe about the guest who was not dressed properly?

However, the parable will not make sense if we approach Jesus’ parable literally.  The King has already invited you and me to the heavenly banquet.

Have we prioritized our daily business to make ourselves available to the King?  Do we “dress” our behaviors well to accept the graces the heavenly King gives us?  Are we ready, at any time of the day, to enter the banquet hall?  Do we believe that God wants to love us into a fuller experience of life in the fellowship of the Kingdom?  The Body and Blood of his Son, our eternal banquet, nourish us.  Let us sing our way into the banquet hall.  

Prayer
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.   
   (Will L. Thompson, 1847 – 1909) 

M. Peggy Lovrien
Diocese of Winona
Winona, MN

Song of the Week
  BREAD FOR THE WORLD (© 1990, Bernadette Farrell. Published by OCP)

Refrain
Bread for the world: a world of hunger.
Wine for all peoples: people who thirst.
May we who eat be bread for others.
May we who drink pour out our love.

Verse 1
Lord Jesus Christ, You are the bread of life,
broken to reach and heal the wounds of human pain.
Where we divide your people,you are waiting there
on bended knee to wash our feet with endless care.

Common Good Connections:
In this weekend's readings, we hear the prophet Isaiah say:
"On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples
a feast of rich food and choice wines; juicy, rich food and choice wines
On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples,
The web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever.
The Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces."

Notice how the prophet does not say that God will care for only the people of Israel, but rather "all peoples."  What would our world be like if we sat down and shared a meal with anyone - or everyone - in the world?  Rich and poor, peacemaker and terrorist, Muslim and Christian, American and Chinese, Russian, Ethiopian... it doesn't matter.  God loves all, Jesus came for all, and we are called to serve all - to be bread for the world.  That is the call of Solidarity in Catholic Social Teaching, the idea that we are all in this together.

Thursday, October 9
6-7 PM practice for the Inauguration, in the Choir Room of the Music Dept.  This will take the place of our normal Thursday rehearsal

Friday, October 10
1:30 PM in the Abbey Church - Mass for the Inauguration of SNC President Thomas Kunkel.  We'll begin practice at 12:00 Noon.

Sunday,  October 12
Our usual weekend schedule of Sunday masses - 10 AM (practice at 8:45 AM) and 7 PM (practice at 6 PM).  We hope to see you there!

Isaiah 25:6-10
The Lord will prepare a feast and will wipe away the tears from every cheek.   

Psalm 23
El Senor is mi pastor.  Nada me falta.  The Lord is my shepherd.  There is nothing I shall want

Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20
I am able to do all things in him who strengthens me. 

Matthew 22:1-14
Whomsoever you find invite to the wedding.