10/9/11 cblog TRAGEDY TURNED St. F. ASSISI from PLAYBOY to PROSELYTIZER ; polycarp (partial audio & partial verbatim) 730a m: "Parable to address the relig leaders of his time ..ancestors..chosen people..special guests @ kingdom..banquet ..but when they..they turn down the invit..giving excuses..ancient situation israel..by conf baptism we accept jesus special invit ..accepting was only 1st step..the beg. Of faith journey...true story ill the point: sfa (st francis assisi) whose feast..few days ago, born wealthy..he was a playboy & spendthrift..used allowance to pay bills of rowdy friends ..when assiss & parusha ..had conflict..francis was captured..confined 4 year in dungeon ..took year to regain health..changd his life 4ever ..no more expensive clothes, but poor garb..w/ big white cross..left home, outskirts of assisi old church...one day mass ..gospel re preaching good news ..he gave up hermit life...inspird othrs 2 follow..franciscan order was born ..commitment that chr life involves ..he began nominal...loved good life more than chr life, but tragedy showed him how fleeting & fragile life is..swept away instantly..francis profound conv ..Jesus had bettr things in mind...sfa went to preach gospel in world like ours today. A world that is cool on faith, &caught up in pleasures ...
Isaiah 25.6-10
"On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines. On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples the web that is woven over all nations he will destroy death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face the reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken On that day it will be said "Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us This is the LORD for whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!" For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.
Responsorial Psalm R. (6cd) I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want In verdant pastures ...
Philippians 4.12-20 (parts of) "Brothers and sisters I know how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry of living in abundance and of being in need I can do all things in him who strengthens me Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress My God will fully supply whatever you need in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father, glory forever and ever. Amen."
Matt 22.1-14 " Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people in parables, saying"The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come A second time he sent other servants, saying"Tell those invited: "Behold, I have prepared my banquet my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast." Some ignored the invitation and went away one to his farm, another to his business The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find." The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests, he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. The king said to him, 'My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?' But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet and cast him into the darkness outside where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.' Many are invited, but few are chosen."
