Holy Spirit, help us prepare for and attend the feasts of heaven...

                 
1 John 3:1-3 & Matthew 22:1-14

Saints throughout history – that is those who have received God’s invitation and engaged themselves in the holy Mercy of God - have involved themselves with attendance at the feast(s) of heaven.  I too am invited! We are all invited to the everyday feasts, and THE FEAST that is the Wedding Feast of the Lamb of Heaven promised as the culmination of this present age of human kind. When I am invited for dinner at a special gathering such as a wedding it is similar to the invitation I receive daily from Christ Jesus to feast with Him. I have a choice to disregard the invitation, respond in the negative, or to attend the event.  If I choose to go, I mark the date on my calendar and make preparations, looking forward to the occasion to meet up with friends and family and celebrate together.   At minimum, I prepare any gift I will bring, ensure that my good clothes are ready, clean up to be my best, and arrange a ride to arrive on time. Yes, attending a feast requires a special commitment of time and effort.  Is it worth it? Absolutely!  Indeed it is these special occasions along my life’s journey that shape my joy of belonging -  to my family and friends on the one hand, and to theGod’s family along with the Communion of Saints on the other.  Although I might not receive wedding, or even dinner invitations every day, I am daily invited to spend time with the family of God (including ‘All Saints’) through prayer and the reading of scripture, and ultimately to comprehend and respond to the invitation to the culminating Feast of this Age.  Will I disregard Christ’s invitation to sit at table with him, or respond in the negative, or commit to prepare myself and arrange to attend the everyday feasts, and the great FEAST, of heaven? Holy Spirit of God, help us prepare for and attend the feasts of heaven.
 
Who shall stand in his holy place? Someone who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up their soul to what is false.  (Psalm 24:3-4)
 
There is no saint without a past, and no sinner without a future.
Saint Augustine of Hippo
 
Soli ad gloriam
Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook
& www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca