On a sabbath Jesus went to dine
at the home of one of the leading Pharisees,
and the people there were observing him carefully.

He told a parable to those who had been invited,
noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table.
“When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet,
do not recline at table in the place of honor.
A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him,
and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say,
‘Give your place to this man,’
and then you would proceed with embarrassment
to take the lowest place.
Rather, when you are invited,
go and take the lowest place
so that when the host comes to you he may say,
‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’
Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table.
For every one who exalts himself will be humbled,
but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Then he said to the host who invited him,
“When you hold a lunch or a dinner,
do not invite your friends or your brothers
or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors,
in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.
Rather, when you hold a banquet,
invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;
blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.
For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Yesterday the Church celebrated the Feast of St. Monica, the devout Catholic mother of St. Augustine.  She was married to a wayward husband, and her son Augustine was also wayward. She prayed for seventeen years for her son to straighten out his ways — Augustine did just that.  He became baptized, then a priest, then a great bishop of the Church, and then a great saint.  Without a doubt he rsvp’d to the invitation of Christ though he waited, as he said, too long.  Today is his feast day.  Saints Monica and Augustine, pray for us!

The invitation to the wedding banquet is the parable of the Gospel today and how people responded to the seating arrangements as they came to the wedding banquet.

I want to share with you three distinct banquets that are in the invitation that comes from Christ our Savior: 

First is the banquet of heaven which is the very reason why Christ came into the world.  Through His birth born of the Virgin Mary, through his Cross, death and resurrection the whole world has been saved.  The members of the Church long for the banquet of heaven, when our journey on earth is over.  May we someday be part of the heavenly banquet.  

Second is the banquet of the Mass, the banquet of the Holy Eucharist.  The Mass — the Eucharist — is the very foretaste of Heaven on Earth as we offer together Mass daily, especially on Sunday as we enter into the great mystery of Christ Himself in the Word and the Sacrament for the salvation of our souls and for the whole world.  That is why to miss Sunday Mass is a serious sin. But more than an obligation, let us be more aware that this banquet is the foretaste of Heaven.  

Third is the banquet of everyday life itself when we live a life according to His ways in perfect humility. 

Without a doubt the invitation is about the heavenly banquet, but it is also about living the Banquet of Christ each day by our words and actions.  

By virtue of our Baptism, Christ our Savior invites us to the wedding banquet, the heavenly banquet, the banquet of the Mass, the very foretaste of heaven, the banquet of everyday life in Christ.  

May we rsvp wholeheartedly and without counting the cost. 

Monsignor Michael J. Cariglio, Jr., Pastor & Rector, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica and Saint Anthony Parish

It has long been a Catholic understanding that when circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion, it is possible to make an Act of Spiritual Communion, which is a source of grace. Spiritual Communion is an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and lovingly embrace him at a time or in circumstances when one cannot receive Him in sacramental Communion. The most common reason for making an Act of Spiritual Communion is when a person cannot attend Mass. Acts of Spiritual Communion increase our desire to receive sacramental Communion and help us avoid the sins that would make us unable to receive Holy Communion worthily.

Spiritual Communion Prayer

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally,

Come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you as if you were already there

And unite myself wholly to you.

Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen.