St. John Eudes, priest 

St. Ezekiel Moreno, priest 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊      　

Judges 11:29-39a*

(…..) Jephthah made a vow to Yahweh:

“If you make me victorious, I shall sacrifice to you whoever first comes out of my house to meet me when I return from battle. He shall be for Yahweh and I shall offer him up through the fire.” Jephthah crossed the territory of the Ammonites to fight against them, and Yahweh gave him victory. (…..)

When Jephthah returned home to Mizpah, his daughter came out to meet him. (…..)

When Jephthah saw her, he tore his clothes and cried out, “My daughter, you have shattered me; you have brought me misfortune. For I have made a foolish vow to Yahweh, and now I cannot take it back.”

She answered him, “Father, even if you have made such a foolish vow, you have to do me just as you promised, for Yahweh has avenged you and crushed your enemies.

I only beg of you to give me two months to live with my companions in the mountains. There I shall lament because I will never marry.” Jephthah said to her, “Go then.” And he sent her away for two months. (…..)

 

Ps 40:5, 7-8a, 8b-9, 10

Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Matthew 22:1-14

 Jesus went on speaking to them in parables:

“This story throws light on the kingdom of heaven. A king celebrated the wedding of his son.  He sent his servants to call the invited guests to the wedding feast, but the guests refused to come.

Again he sent other servants ordering them to say to the invited guests: ‘I have prepared a banquet, slaughtered my fattened calves and other animals, and now everything is ready; come then, to the wedding feast.’  

 But they paid no attention and went away, some to their fields, and others to their work.   While the rest seized the ser­vants of the king, insulted them and killed them.

The king became angry. He sent his troops to destroy those murderers and burn their city.   Then he said to his servants: ‘The wedding banquet is prepared, but the invited guests were not worthy.  Go, then, to the crossroads and invite everyone you find to the wedding feast.’

 The servants went out at once into the streets and gathered everyone they found, good and bad alike, so that the hall was filled with guests.

 The king came in to see those who were at table, and he noticed a man not wearing the festal garment.   So he said to him: ‘Friend, how did you get in without the wedding garment?’ But the man remained silent.  

 So the king said to his servants: ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the dark where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

 Know that many are called, but few are chosen.”

 

 Gospel Reflection：

 We have a God who loves to celebrate and invites us to partake in his feast. The problem is, we are not always disposed to prioritize God's invitation, just like the invited guests of the king in today's Gospel. They ignore the invitation.

They also harm the envoys of the king sent to them. They are busy with their own affairs. Thus, they get their just rewards. Because they do not attach importance to the king's friendship and goodwill, they are cut off from his list of friends.

And so, others who were not on the original list of the king get invited. They are able to enter his house because the original guests did not heed the king's invitation. But they have to be properly dressed for the occasion. So those who ignore God's invitation, and those who do not respond properly will both lose the Friendship of God.