From the Pastor to His People

10-15-2023Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

As a priest, I receive invitations to birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, weddings, and many more. These invitations are opportunities to come together and celebrate something or someone's special occasion. Some celebrations are thanksgiving to God for the gift of life or other blessings. As I write the reflection for this coming Sunday, I remember that I have a Birthday invitation tonight from my former dentist (Dr. Pam, as we Filipino priests fondly call her). We all miss her care, but she retired two years ago. Every year, she invites all her priest friends on her birthday. A Birthday Celebration reminds me that every human life is worth living and that all life, for that matter, is a precious gift worth treasuring and celebrating.

I also believe that there is a continuing call from God to all of us to be alive and live our lives abundantly. Incidentally, we who live in Anthem, AZ, have this community motto: Life in abundance! By this, we mean that we are a welcoming, beautiful, and joyful community dedicated to creating opportunities for a thriving and abundant lifestyle! But what is abundant life? Abundant Life is only found in God; St. John says: We proclaim now to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; for our communion is with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing this so that our joy may be complete (1 Jn. 34).

Today, Jesus likens the Kingdom of God to an invitation (the King's invitation to celebrate his son’s wedding). In all the invitations, there is a recognition that God’s invitation is free, but the invited has the power to accept or reject the invitation. By choice, some are able to attend, some are not, and still others might come but have to leave earlier and still honor the celebration and invitation. A good story always has an unexpected twist in the plot. In the parable, the King sends his servants to the streets and invites everyone, good and bad, which fills the hall with guests. We could say the new guests received an invitation they could not refuse. When I think of my priesthood, I cannot help asking: Why me, Lord? Like in the parable, the privilege and decision to choose whom to invite will always remain in God. And that is because He is God, and we are not!

The Gospel also speaks of the general amnesty in God's mercy and compassion. He forgives and accepts us back into His fold because of His Sacred Heart, the font of Divine Mercy. Many are invited; but few are chosen, which means there is a vetting process: The Kingdom of God is open to all and not exclusive to the chosen people, but those who come to the heavenly banquet must qualify by faith and good deeds. We can say that the invitation is free but not unlimited.

Discipleship is the discipline of inviting and accepting Jesus into our hearts.

Jesus, thank you for inviting us into your HEART.