SELECTED REFLECTIONS OF SOME MEMBERS ACROSS THE FORUM
TWENTY-EIGHT SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME: YEAR A
1st Reading: Isaiah (Isaiah 25:6-10a)
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: 23:1 -3a. 3b-4. 5. 6 (R.6cd)
2nd Reading: (Philippians 4:12-14.19-20)
ALLELUIA: Ephesians 1:17-18
Gospel: Matthew 22: 1-14)
Mobuogwu Francis kosisochukwu
My Reflection
The book of Isaiah says God will prepare a big feast of the best food and wine for all people's on the mountain. He will remove the veil covering our eyes, he will swallow death forever
And the gospel of Matthew says A king prepared a wedding feast for his son, but the invited guest refused to come. Some said i am busy with my farm, my business. So the king went to the village and invited everybody good or bad
What God is telling us this Saturday
1. God's plan for us is a feast not fasting, joy not sorrow,many of us think God only wants us to suffer, No prophet Isaiah says he prepare fat things full of marrow
2. The veil will be removed
3. But you must come with wedding garments, The Gospel warns you cannot come to God's feast anyhow. The wedding garment is a clean heart- repentance, forgiveness,holiness. God invites everybody but you must prepare
God has prepared a feast for you, Not just any food the best food- joy, peace and eternal life. And this feast is not for only holy people,the bible says for " For all peoples" for you, for me , for sinners.
So the question is, are you prepared?
My Reflection
First Reading: Isaiah 25:6-10a
Psalm: Psalm 23
Second Reading: Philippians 4:12-14,19-20
Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14
1. First Reading - Isaiah 25:6-10a - God Prepares a Feast
Prophet Isaiah gives us a beautiful picture. He says God will prepare for all peoples, on His mountain, a feast of rich foods and choice wines.
What does it mean?
God is not a stingy God. He is a Father who wants to celebrate with His children. The feast is heaven, but it also starts here on earth. He promises to remove the veil of sorrow and death that covers all nations. He will wipe away tears and destroy death forever.
*Reflection:* Many of us live with fear, poverty, sickness, and death. God is telling us today, "I have prepared something better for you." Are you still living in sorrow, or have you accepted His invitation to joy?
2. Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 23:1-6 - The Lord is my Shepherd
This is a response to the first reading.
"The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want."
If God is preparing a feast, He is also the Shepherd who leads us to that feast. He leads us to green pastures, restful waters, even when we walk through the valley of darkness, He is there.
The R. says: *"In the Lord's own house shall I dwell for ever and ever."*
This is the confidence. If you follow the Shepherd, you will not get lost. You will end up in His house - that banquet Isaiah talked about.
*Reflection:* Are you letting the Lord lead you, or are you leading yourself?
3. Second Reading - Philippians 4:12-14,19-20 - Contentment in Christ
Paul writes from prison. He says:
"I know how to be poor and I know how to be rich... I can do all things in Him who strengthens me."
This is powerful. Paul has found the secret. Whether there is food or no food, money or no money, he is content because Christ is his strength.
Then he assures us: "My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory."
*Reflection:*Today's world makes us complain always. No money, no job, result not good. Paul says, learn to be content in every situation, but trust that God will provide. Contentment is not laziness, it is peace while you trust God.
4. Gospel - Matthew 22:1-14 - The Parable of the Wedding Feast
This Gospel explains the first reading.
A king prepares a wedding feast for his son and invites guests, but they refuse. Some go to farm, some to business, some even kill the servants. So the king says, go to the streets and invite everyone - good and bad.
But one man comes without a wedding garment, and he is thrown out. *"Many are called, but few are chosen."*
What does it mean?
1. The Feast is the Kingdom of God. God invites everyone, especially us Christians.
2. The people who refused are us* when we say we are too busy for God - farm, business, phone, work. No time for Mass, no time for prayer.
3. The wedding garment is our Christian life. You cannot come to God's feast anyhow. You need repentance, love, charity, holiness. Baptism gave us a white garment, we must keep it clean.
God invites all, but He expects us to be prepared.
FINAL MESSAGE FOR YOU
All three readings talk about ONE THING: A FEAST.
Isaiah says God has prepared it.
Psalm says the Shepherd will lead us to it.
Paul says God will give us strength to get there.
But Matthew says: You must respond properly.
God has invited you. Don't give excuses. And don't come dirty.
Questions for personal reflection:
1. What excuse am I giving to refuse God's invitation?
2. Is my wedding garment (my Christian life) still clean or dirty with sin?
3. Can I like Paul say, "I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me"?
May God who has prepared a banquet for us, give us the grace to be worthy guests. Amen.
My Reflection
In all, just no give up. But still dey thankful
E get as life go toss you, you go think say yur own don finish. E no go easy!
You go feel like say na you and Pharaoh soljas dey inside ocean wen Moses close am.
Life go show you shegeh com add banzah, so tey if you look up, na so so water go full yur heart.
My broda, my sista, as you dey go thru this “valley of the shadow of death,” I say make I remind you say na bcos of me and you Prophet Isaiah open mouth talk today. E want make we know say hope dey. God awa papa, never forget say we still dey. Ihm go still do am for us.
And as pipul dey use sorry eyes dey look us, God dey rewrite awa story. Ihm dey add the last sentence wey go make me and you understand say “ihm hand no far from where we don fall”
Na dis reason make me no forget Wetin Senior broda Paul talk. Tru tru, God dey look after Ihm own. Ihm know how to enter when e be like say road don block. Ihm na supplier and ihm kno wen be the propa and correct time.
See, affliction go rise, tribulation go show face. Eyes go red, hearts go break. We go ask questions, awa mind go shake, awa faith sef go even fear…
But, make we remember say this Baba God na ogbenge Baba… make we believ say try tru if we use faith and hope take wait for am den we go fit understand wetin e mean wen dem say *the Lord is my Shepherd, e no get wetin I lack* bcos Ihm go remove the veil of sorrow, shame and tears wey don cover awa face since and ihm go wipe awa tears and then we go really really kno the importance of praise wey we dey praise am.
God abeg, open my eyes so dat I go undastand say I no dey wait in vain bcos I get faith and hope say you go turn up for me and na so so “thank you” go full my mouth, bcos na you be my everything and I no fit lack. Amen
Many Are Called But Few Are Chosen.
Greetings brethren!
My little sharing comes from the Gospel.
Dear brethren! Today God invites you and I to the great banquet He prepared for us as His loving children. This feast is not for anyhow persons, it's specially for the chosen ones like you and I. Many of us seized honoring the invitations from God due to how we have chosen to be and the way we have chosen to live our lives. Dear brethren, if God finds you worthy of making you His own, then you are very privileged and fortunate. Don't you think that's a great honor to be chosen by God? When the chosen ones seized coming, God will always make ways just to fill in the gap and that's exactly what He did in the Gospel today.
Dear brothers and sisters, when God calls you to be a co- worker in His vineyard and you feel you are too busy or not ready for God's work, God can raise even stones to occupy your space and you shall be the one to cry at last.
My beloved, never you rejects God call or invitations if you must live a fulfilled life here on Earth.
We are all co-workers in God's vineyard but in different fields, discover yours and be active in it, fill in the gap.
The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
May God strengthen us all and make us worthy of serving Him in Jesus name 🙏.
Blessings always
My Reflection
Introduction :
In our first reading today Isaiah prophesies of the banquet prepared for all on the Holy Mountain.
In the Gospel, Jesus equated the kingdom of God to a kingly banquet where all are invited.
*Reflection*
From these readings there are three things we can reflect on:
*1st* : the banquet on mount Zion (the holy place where gods dwell, here, it is a meeting place where the people of Israel encounter God) and the kingly banquet represents the kingdom of God, it denotes heaven. It is an eschatological expression.
Heaven is our planned destination, it is a place prepared for us all by God, his abode where we all are destined to be at the end of our earthly sojourn.
*2nd*: the invitation to the banquet is for all. Our God has called all to his heavenly banquet, we are all invited no exception, no selection, no categorisation, we all, you and I have been invited specially, personally and uniquely. In the 1st reading, the prophecy was given to the people of Israel but the realisation of that prophecy seen in the Gospel was opened to all. Note that the Old Testament Israel is the people of God, just like we hear of the New Jerusalem in the New Testament. Hence, this invitation to the heavenly banquet is *Universal* and not for a selected few.
*3rd*: God has opened his gate to us all, it is our responsibility to respond readily. We all must be ready to dine with God in his heavenly banquet. In the Gospel we see 2 categories of unreadiness: those who vehemently refused not to come. Those who have chosen the earthly banquet to the heavenly banquet. (May we not be amongst these people) Also we see those who are gathered to the banquet but were not ready. This applies to most of us, we are Christians but are not practicing Christianity; we like to be called Christians but don't want to be Christians (does it make sense), yes, these are those gathered from around the world into the banquet but are not putting on the wedding garment.
May we be ready at all times with our good works and deeds which proves our Christianity and readiness for that heavenly banquet prepared by God, that at the end of our life here on earth, we may be worthy to join our Father in heaven in His banquet prepared for us all.
Peace be with us🙏🏻
My Sharing
In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us that the Kingdom of God is like a wedding feast to which many are invited, but not everyone responds to the invitation. Some are too busy with their daily activities, while others reject the invitation completely.
God invites each of us to come closer to Him, but sometimes we allow work, money, pleasure, and worldly concerns to distract us from His presence. The wedding garment represents the right disposition of heart, a life of faith, love, repentance, and obedience to God.
As Christians, it is not enough to hear God’s call; we must also respond to it through our actions and the way we live. Let us not take God’s invitation for granted or allow the distractions of this world to separate us from Him.
