There is a need to respond in a positive way to Jesus in order to participate fully in the new life he brings. This is illustrated in the gospel for this Sunday through a story about a wedding feast. The King invites many people. But many find excuses not to come. They consider their own personal preoccupations to be more important than his invitation. A second group finally comes to the feast but one is thrown out because he is not properly dressed. Part of the response to the invitation is to dress appropriately. To answer God’s invitation is not enough. Our lives must change.

To eat a meal with others expresses the love that exists between us. In biblical times, many covenants were sealed eating of a meal (Ex. 24:1-11). To have eaten with somebody and then to turn against that person later on was regarded as a very serious offence. Normally you invite to dinner people with whom you have some relationship already or wish to establish a friendly relationship. In some of the prophetic books the end-time is presented as a great feast or a banquet. God takes the initiative in preparing the feast and invites not only his own people, but all nations. The invitation is a call of love and appropriate answer is to accept it and express love in return. Those who come to eat with God, will be taught by Him (Is 2:3).

At the end of the story of the wedding feast, we read that somebody is the wedding hall is thrown out because he does not have the proper dress. It seems that wedding clothes were provided for the guests when they arrived. So if a guest was not dressed properly, it meant he had intentionally refused to use the garment provided. He preferred his own, perhaps more beautiful and flashy clothes, and so was saying that he did not want to belong to the wedding party.

God sends out invitations. Every Sunday He invites us to share His Eucharistic meal to remind us of the great wedding feast of heaven when we will meet God face to face. Everyday God gives us little invitations through the voice of conscience in our hearts to give some time to prayer, to listen to a person in need or to do a kind act. How often do we invent excuses not to follow God’s quiet invitations: business or our social position, friends or family, sports or leisure. When we say no to God’s invitations and follow our own preferences, we miss an opportunity to live more fully the new life Jesus brings us. St. Paul asked his fellow Christians “to put on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 13:14) and to wear the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness and the shoes of those ready to proclaim the Gospel of peace (Eph 6:14-15). Is it visible by our way of life that we belong to Christ as his real friends? Or have we kept on our old habits and way of life that are really not acceptable in his company?

~ REV. FR. BRYAN MA. EALA, OSM

An invitation for a transformation

Today’s gospel reminds me of a wedding invitation I received last month, which I have yet to respond to. While reflecting on the readings, I received a message from my friend expressing her hope that I could join them on their special day, and she was also asking for a confirmation of my attendance since it’s coming up next month. The invitation includes an RSVP, indicating that they really need a response, preferably a positive one. And if I will say no, there will still time to open it to others who will surely attend.

So, what took me so long to respond?

Although I feel honored to be on their guest list, I’m still considering turning down the invitation because I’m too focused on my own limitations. There are many factors to weigh before I can respond. The conflicting schedules of other events and of course, the expense itself prevented me from attending.

At one point, I questioned the invitation and asked myself, “Do they really want me to be there?” because I am not a member of the family, I live far from their place, and I think others are more capable and deserving of being there. It appears that I had doubts about both myself and the friend who extended the invitation.

I knew as soon as I said “yes” that I would have to get ready for the wedding by booking a flight ticket, lodging, and clothing. Like the wedding, God’s invitation also needs a favorable response, for we are being invited into a personal relationship with His son, Jesus Christ. Since everything is ready for us to enjoy the feast in His Kingdom, His invitation is not to rush us to respond right away without a proper disposition of the heart, but rather to prepare our hearts and respond with trust and without delay. I was one of the secondary sponsors at another friend’s wedding. The clothes were provided. To fit in with the wedding’s theme, all I needed to do was show up and dress appropriately. She would undoubtedly be upset if I didn’t follow and used a different color and style.

The man who did not wear a wedding garment was banished by the King in the parable, and when questioned, he was reduced to silence. Everybody has the opportunity to change, but if we choose to follow our own desires rather than God’s, we will be humiliated and condemned.

The fact that God provided everything for us shows how gracious He is. All we need to do is respond responsibly and with an open heart. For us to experience heaven while we are here on earth, why not devote every moment of our lives to the Lord by regularly participating fully and actively in the Holy Mass.

In addition, I’m not accustomed to wearing makeup and other girly items on regular days. Because of this, I truly undergo a kind of metamorphosis with a tiis-ganda moment when I am on such an occasion. Therefore, we are called to transform in God’s image and likeness when He extends an invitation to us. God has given us free will because He respects our choices, but once we fully accept His invitation and do as He says, He will give us the power to change our hearts and become holy.

~ LEA B.

PRAYER TO START THE WEEK
Lord Jesus, thank You for always inviting us to be part of Your family and Your Kingdom. Help us not to get too distracted by life that we forget to listen to You. Give us the courage to say yes to You and let our choices show that we truly follow You. May we always be ready to accept Your invitation and share Your love with others. Amen.

Originally published in the Neo Jeremiah Voice of the Young Prophet Newsletter (October 11, 2026 issue).