Come to the feast: A change will do you good

		Living the Scriptures  with St. Paul University  Catholic Center  Joel Spiess

In Matthew's Gospel message, all are invited to the feast, just as we are all invited to eternity with God. What becomes difficult to decipher in this message is the metaphor at work.

The host calls the lowliest of the lowly, and all come. At the feast, the host calls upon the one who sticks out, who has not worn the proper clothing.

What? What is being said here? Will our welcome into heaven really be dependent on what we are wearing, how we physically appear?

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Oct. 9, 2005) Is 25:6-10a Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 Phil 4:12-14, 19-20 Mt 22:1-14 or 22:1-10

Let's dig deeper into the metaphor. What is the clothing? What does it represent?

This man was called to the table, like all of the others, but he neglected to change his clothes before the feast. God calls to us, and we answer His call, but the story doesn't end there. We must admit our sins, our faults, and our shortcomings before we can continue on the path to His righteousness.

We must change before we can be allowed into the kingdom of heaven. This man did not change his clothes before the feast, while all others had, and here he was enjoying the feast without making the commitment of change. And here I thought he was getting kicked out because he wasn't wearing Armani.

This parable reminds me of personal struggles. Throughout my life, God has called me to follow Him in so many ways. I have been involved in His church since I was born: serving as an altar boy, always hanging out in youth groups, singing in choirs, and going on retreats. But along the way, I have often felt this sense of hypocrisy.

In retrospect, I know I have put on the face of Christ without changing my clothes. On the outside, I might be that shiny little Catholic boy (you know, the polished and devoted Catholic), but on the inside, I still desire control over my own life.

I still lust for unrighteous pleasure. I still wonder if my prayers are really doing anything. I still doubt in God and his works.

	Reflection questions • In what ways have you accepted God's call but still refused to change? • How will you change in order to prepare for the kingdom of heaven?

What I need to remember is to trust in God and put on the garment He hands to me day after day. It is not enough to simply act like a God-seeking, prayerful, and spiritual follower. I must know within my own heart that God wants this for me and knows what is best.

I must offer up the ways in which I control my own life and the stresses that come with it, and I must embrace God's presence in my daily life. I must courageously strive for opportunities to change myself in order to fully take up the cross Christ has placed in front of me.

Joel Spiess is the director of the St. Paul University Catholic Center's 11:15 a.m. Sunday Choir. He has also served as a member of the Catholic Student Union, the Building Committee, the Liturgy Preparation Team, and the Arts & Environment Committee at St. Paul's. Joel is a third-year Choral Music Education student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

St. Paul's Web site is www.stpaulscc.org

Faith Alive!

In a Nutshell Apostles were early Christian leaders who proclaimed the good news. Nearly one-third of the Twelve Apostles closely connected to Jesus during his earthly ministry remain unknown in terms of their personalities and particular contributions. Little is known about James of Alphaeus and Bartholomew, for example. What stands out about them, however, is their dedication to the Lord and readiness to communicate the Gospel. Catholic News Service 3211 Fourth St NE Washington DC 20017 202.541.3250 cns@catholicnews.com	Food for Thought   Imagine yourself in the shoes of one of the Twelve Apostles. The roles of the Twelve are hardly incidental to the Bible's message. And, you might say, somehow "they are us." Each of the Twelve has the valuable role of helping to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth -- bring it everywhere, that is. Each baptized Christian now also has this role -- bringing the good news to someone somewhere through actions and/or words. The U.S. bishops talked about this in a 2005 statement on mission. "All Catholics, by reason of their incorporation into the church at baptism, should fully participate and cooperate in Christ's ongoing mission 'to the nations,'" the bishops said. Today "Christ's mission to the world has become more difficult but even more necessary," the bishops commented. They said this mission "is an invitation to know Christ or to know him better, and it is made in a spirit of respect toward others." full story   Getting to know each of the Twelve better By Father Dale Launderville, OSB Catholic News Service Apostles were leaders in the early Christian community who carried out Jesus' commission to proclaim the good news about the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 10:7). A number of people are called "apostles." St. Paul, for example, was the apostle to the gentiles. Among the apostles was a group of Twelve who were closely associated with Jesus during his earthly ministry. Lists of the Twelve occur four times in the New Testament: Mark 3:16-19; Matthew 10:2-4; Luke 6:14-16; Acts 1:13. full story  What Peter and I have in common By Father Paul Campbell Catholic News Service When I was in elementary school a teacher once told our class that getting good grades in religion didn't mean we were good Christians. To become good Christians we had to act as if we believed the words we knew so well. The apostle Peter always seemed to know the answers to Jesus' questions. Yet living out those answers proved much more challenging. I wonder sometimes whether Jesus was speaking to the Israelites or directly to Peter when he said, "Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of my Father." full story  The apostle of the impossible By Stanley J. Konieczny Catholic News Service St. Jude Thaddeus often is known as the saint of the impossible or of hopeless cases. Though we don't know much about him, people with big unsolved problems pray to him a great deal today. One of the Twelve, Matthew and Mark designate him as Thaddeus, a name meaning "generosity" and "kindness." Luke calls him Jude, which means "giver of joy." full story
	Faith in the Marketplace   This Week's Discussion Point: Who among Jesus' Twelve Apostles most appeals to you? Why?     Selected Response From Readers:
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