A WORD FOR TODAY
GET READY FOR THE BANQUET
_"Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the thoroughfares, and invite to the marriage feast as many as you find.’ And those servants went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good; so the wedding hall was filled with guests."(Matthew 22:8-10)_
_*Sometimes people give reasons why they will not honour certain invitations, but when those who attended the ceremony returns to tell their story, those who failed to attend will regret why they did not attend, because of the goodies that those that attended brought back.*_
_Today's gospel reading is about the wedding feast. People were invited and they chose not to attend and gave plenty excuses, but the king gave orders for people to be gathered from the streets to fill the wedding hall. The kingdom of heaven could be compared to this parable._
_*God has extended His invitation to us to come to follow Him so as to enjoy the heavenly banquet, but sometimes we are full of excuses through the things we do. We tend to get busy with other things and in the end we lose the opportunity.*_
_Heaven is our goal as Christians and pilgrims here on earth and if we miss it because of our lack of focus and concentration on the things that matter and avoid unnecessary distraction, we will be the ones to be blamed. It is our choice to make, but God has given us the opportunity and we should not let it pass us by because of our indifferent attitude to the things of God._
_*God's banquet is ready, but are you ready to attend? Do you have the proper disposition and willingness to put on the right garment by way of holy living, acts of kindness, love for God and humanity and constant striving to do what God wants.*_
_Do not let anything in this life occupy your heart so much that you will no longer be ready to do what is necessary to be able to be admitted into the eternal banquet. Love the things of God more than the things of this world that is passing away. Give all your heart to God and keep to your promises and vows to Him as Jephthah did in the first reading and you will be ready for the heavenly banquet when the time comes. God's invitation comes to us everyday to do what is right and avoid evil, we must learn to honour it by following the path of righteousness and avoid seeking satisfaction in places and in things where we cannot find true satisfaction, but pain, sorrow and disappointment in the end._
_*Good morning dearest one. Smile😊as you do your work and do have a wonderful day. May Jesus give you the grace to be ready for the banquet and to avoid giving excuses. Amen. And may the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.*_
*Meditation:* Judges 11:29-39/Psalm 40:5,7-10/Matthew 22:1-14
*Watch-Word:* For many are called, but few are chosen
*God's invitation is free and open for all, if you choose not to come, others will enter and enjoy the banquet and you will miss, endeavor to be among the few that will be chosen.*
(Thursday of the 20th week in the ordinary time, Year 1)