This week Deacon Michael Peck returns to St. Vincent Seminary for his last year of theological studies before ordination to the priesthood. He will be with us most weekends as he remains assigned here throughout his deacon year. Remember him in your prayers often as he enters the final phase of discernment of the call to the priesthood.
Beginning next weekend, we are including a weekly insert with the bulletin called The Word to Go. This insert offers us reflections on the Sunday readings that can be used throughout the week. There are questions to ponder, suggestions about how to live what the liturgy (readings) call us to, and how to share the faith. Our question of the week won’t just be asked in the homily now or appear in the Forum, but be found in these inserts. Every group and ministry here in the parish can use this resource as part of our pastoral plan that focuses on formation. It’s a great way to include prayer time in every meeting as well as a call to deepen our spiritual lives through the Word of God.
Liturgical ministers have been meeting now for about a year in small groups, not only to talk about the ministry they offer to the parish, but about what’s behind all ministry. These ongoing sessions are essential if we are to understand the core of ministry as coming from Christ, the great High Priest who offered his life. Christ invites us to the banquet of life every week, and from the nourishment we receive, we are sent into the world to make a difference.
The wedding banquet is a symbol of that ultimate feast of the Kingdom. Jesus says that instead of worrying about who gets the place of honor, we should worry about not being obtrusive. This parable teaches us a lesson about humility. When we love someone, that person’s needs and desires become more important to us than our own. We no longer live according to our own self-will. Letting go of self-will and living according to the divine will is the most critical challenge of married life.
In the coming catechetical year, we are going to look at marriage in a special way. If we fail to understand this covenanted relationship, we will fail to understand the image of the bond between Christ and the Church, his bride. Here’s our question this week. Why do you come to the banquet? (Or, why not?) Not everyone who is invited comes.
