Question: What do you have when you combine an apple with a pear?
Answer: Appear!
Question: Do birds have hands?
Answer: No.
Question: But why do birds suddenly “appear” every time you are near?
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In today’s Gospel (Matthew 22:1-10), Jesus tells us about the Father’s invitation for all of us to appear before Him and come to His feast. We are all invited. The feast is ready! Let us not turn down His invitation. Let us honor Him with our personal appearance and response.
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RSVP. “Répondez s’il vous plaît.” Let us not ignore the invitation from God’s heart to become a part of His vision and mission. Let us acknowledge it, and respond personally and gratefully to His love and generosity.
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Personal appearance is required by God’s invitation. We go to great lengths and sacrifice to be personally present when we apply for a visa to a foreign land, but how come we do not do as much to honor God’s invitation?
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“COMISYON.” Money, and the love of money, is one reason why we ignore God’s invitation. The Gospel today says: “Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business.” Too focused on what is good for the body, we forget what is good for the soul. Time and efforts spent for the Lord are not a waste or “unproductive.” At the end of our lives, when we appear before God, may we not hear the Lord tell us: “You made money your God. I am God!” Reflect today: “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul?” (Mark 8:36)
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“CONSOMISYON.” Problems and worldly concerns make us set aside God’s invitation. Life is not easy and the demands to make a living are challenging. Trials, setbacks, and sufferings can consume us, and in the process, we forget God. Focus on the Lord, not on the load! Let us not forget His invitation. “Come to me all you who are burdened, and I will give you rest … for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
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“INTERMISYON.” The pleasures of life, the side trips, and the tempting stops along the way can divert our attention from God’s invitation. Human as we are, we seek comfort, satisfaction, and worldly gratification, but it should not be at the expense of violating other people’s rights and God’s commandments. The call of nature is often stronger than the call of the Master, yes, but the call of the Master in the end is what really matters. “Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:8)
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Let us make God’s Feast bigger than our worldly feasts that are filled with worldly concerns, and worldly pleasures. Let us honor God’s invitation, and we will live lives filled with peace and meaning.
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All of us are cordially invited to God’s heart. Let us extend the invitation to others far and wide, the Feast is ready. God is good, loving, generous, and merciful. Come one, come all!
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The cruel war is raging … people are dying. One with you in humble prayer for peace. “May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the Light of the world, and the Spirit of Grace, and may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all.” Amen!
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“Let nothing disturb you, nothing frighten you; all things are passing; God never changes; patience obtains everything; He who has God is wanting of nothing. God alone suffices. Let nothing disturb you. Solo Dios basta. Nada te turbe.” (St. Teresa of Avila, Oct. 15)
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A moment with the Lord.
Lord, help us to listen and to respond to your generous invitation. Amen.
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momentswithfrjerry@gmail.com