October 10-11

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Who doesn’t like to attend a wedding reception?  Most people do and unfortunately because of the prevailing pandemic many such receptions have been postponed or cancelled.  We feel deprived if we are not given the opportunity to celebrate love and extend warm heartfelt congratulations to a newly-married husband and wife.

Our Lord uses this very imagery of a wedding banquet to reflect the joyfulness of Heaven.  But as he points out one must be properly dispersed and appropriately attired to join in the celebration.  In other words, wedding crashers are not allowed.  Neither can we crash our way into Heaven.

Think of how earnestly one prepares for attendance at a wedding reception.  We look our best in order to honor the bride and groom.  How much more then when we enter this heavenly banquet that has already begun on earth – namely the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.  Our wedding garment is the state of our souls.  Just as we would be horrified to dishonor the couple all the more so should we be diligent in our preparation for the banquet of the Holy Eucharist.  The last thing we would want is to dishonor our Lord who has extended the invitation to us.

Fortunately,  through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Jesus Himself adores us for participation in the Royal Banquet.  Through the ministration of His priests, He guarantees us a place at the table.  He does the clean-up; we need only to come humbly before Him with sorrow for our sins.

I remind you that in addition to our daily confessions before and after Mass and prior to the Sunday Masses we now have Confessions available for you on Saturday mornings from 10:30 – 12:00 in St. Mary Magdalen or in the event of a funeral at St. John’s.  Attire yourself in the mercy of God and be prepared to enter the Banquet either here or in the glory to come.

With Blessings,

Father Langan