💖 HOMILY - AUGUST 21 💖

First Reading - Judges 11:29-39 

Gospel - Matthew 22:1-14

Life is full of invitations. Some are casual — a meal with friends, a gathering with family — and some are life-changing, like choosing a vocation, a career, or a lifelong commitment. The way we respond to an invitation reveals how much we value the one who offers it. Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the seriousness of our response to God’s call — a call that is never casual, but one that demands our whole heart.

In the first reading, Jephthah responds to God’s help with a rash vow, a promise made without discernment, leading to a painful outcome. His story warns us that faith is not about quick words or impulsive bargains, but about thoughtful, faithful living. God desires our trust and our faithfulness, not reckless promises made in haste.

In the Gospel, Jesus tells of a king who throws a wedding banquet. Many invited guests dismiss the invitation, preferring their own affairs. Others mock it outright. Still, the king’s generosity extends even further — the doors are opened to all, good and bad alike. Yet even then, one guest arrives unprepared, without the proper garment, and is cast out. The parable shows us that it is not enough to simply accept God’s invitation; we must come prepared, clothed in faith and love, ready to share in the joy of His kingdom.

Dear friends, God’s call is generous and universal, but it also demands a serious, wholehearted response. Our “yes” to God cannot remain just words spoken in prayer or ritual; it must be lived in the way we prepare our hearts each day, in the way we love, forgive, and serve.

The question is placed before us: how do we respond when God invites us? Do we get distracted by the concerns of this world? Do we offer Him half-hearted service, or do we prepare ourselves like honored guests for the greatest banquet of all — the feast of eternal life?

Let us ask the Lord for the grace to recognize the greatness of His invitation and to respond with sincerity, humility, and readiness. May our lives be clothed in Christ so that when the day comes, we may be found worthy to sit at His table and rejoice in the eternal banquet of His love.