General. Belonging to the Church involves us faithful in doing good works even though we are still aware that deep down, we remain sinners. Yet the grace of God, which comes mostly through the Eucharist, will help us overcome any discouragement which might arise out of our sense of sinfulness.

Isaiah is this Sunday in a different mood than last week’s. The Lord will lay table for all nations on the holy mount of Sion (Corpus Christi sequence), wipe out the tears from all cheeks and destroy death. That day, all peoples will acclaim God as a personal God. Faith in Him will bring salvation and much needed peace to the Holy Mount of Jerusalem.

Psalm 22. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. The image of the Good Shepherd, normally associated with Eastertide, recurs at a time when eschatological (last-time) readings are the order of the day, only to remind us of the Lord’s continuous presence even at gloomy times when He seems to be far away from us.

Philippians. St Paul recounts about himself being able to live both in opulence and in poverty. As expected, the local Church had supported him in time of need. Even God pays back, like He does in today’s banquet theme, all support given to the needy.

St Matthew. Speaking in parables, Jesus says a king gave a free banquet to which few, if any, showed any interest in turning up. They harboured all kinds of personal excuses ranging from social to economic priorities which clashed with the benevolence of the banquet-giver. Those who respected the invitation fell through the king’s favour who instead invited all strangers in the street who had not been invited in the first place. Any baptised person who does not live up to his Christian vocation by showing gratitude to God, is likewise forsaken. Of the many who have been called and baptised, only a few are those who will fully make their way to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Homilies Index Page - Liturgy of the Hours - Home