Many are invited, but few are chosen

by Fr. Jerome Cayetano  |  10/11/2026  |  The WORD in other words

What is peculiar with the Gospel of Matthew is that it has many parables. Today, we hear again another beautiful parable, the Parable of the great Banquet. In sacred scripture banquets signify God's blessings which he wants to bestow not only to the people of Israel but to all the nations. And God wants that his banquet hall will be filled with a lot of people. He wants the Kingdom of heaven be filled with a lot of people because his gift of salvation is universal. It is for all people.

The scene of a man not in a proper banquet attire seems to belong to another parable, but it is purposely placed there to point out a very important message. Courtesy demands that we who have been invited should come to the wedding banquet with a proper attire suited to the occasion. The man who came without the suitable attire symbolizes a life of tepidity, that is, being lukewarm and indifferent or a life without change or metanoia, conversely a life of sin. For how can we savor God's bountiful food if we live a life of coldness, and sin?

The Great Banquet in heaven is  anticipated by the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass which we celebrate every day and on Sundays and Holy Days of obligation. The Mass is a meal of love wherein we participate in together with the community of believers. We share the body and blood of Christ in the form of bread and wine. God invites us to partake the body and blood of his Son, our food in our journey towards the Kingdom of God. We are here at Mass because we have heeded his invitation. Let us express our gratitude and courtesy by coming to Mass with decent attire, with proper disposition, that is, in the state of grace. With love, devotion and with fire, let us actively and wholeheartedly participate in the sacrifice of the Mass.

Let us ask the Lord for the times we have taken the Mass for granted, attending the Mass in a tepid way, lukewarm with indifferent, just going through the motion or ritual without any passion or gusto. Remember, when we go to Mass without passion and fire, without love and devotion, God will spit us out from his mouth. Moreover, let us ask the Lord for the countless times we have committed the sin of sacrilege, that is, receiving communion in the state of mortal sin or grave sin. The Mass must lead us to the sacrament of confession, and the sacrament of confession must lead us to the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Both sacraments are meant for our sanctification.

Whenever, we go to Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of obligation or everyday mass, do we just go through the motion or just fulfill the obligation? Are we cold, lukewarm or without any fire or passion at all? Remember, we are meeting Jesus, our host, our Lord and King. He is our gracious and benevolent God who wants to remain in our hearts. Let us welcome him with love, with great joy and with fire, with excitement and trembling. Let us look forward in hope that someday we will be welcome in the great banquet of the Lord. To savor God's meal, we must strive to be just, holy, and perfect like Jesus.