R. Alleluia, alleluia.
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
enlighten the eyes of our hearts,
so that we may know what is the hope
that belongs to our call.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

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.”

“It was an awesome wedding!” Wedding days are not without “glitches,” but what we carry with us in the life to come is a more beautiful vision of the wedding day.

I have vivid memories of many an awesome wedding that I have presided over and celebrated at the table of the wedding banquet … One of the weddings I remember most was when I was the Ring Bearer for my aunt and uncle’s wedding at the age of ten. That was sixty-nine years ago!

While we were at the sit-down dinner, I was instructed to sneak under the table to remove from my aunt – the new bride – one of her white shoes and to bring it to my uncle, the groom. I was to offer him to buy back the shoe for his new bride! I did so and presented the shoe to the new groom. He took out his wallet and pulled out $5 … However, the price tag was still on the bottom of the shoe, and I explained to my uncle that the cost was $12.95. My uncle pulled out another $5, and I said, “Okay …”

Wedding banquets are the subject of today’s Gospel. In the story one thing was most important – that you went to the Wedding wearing the proper wedding garment. If not properly dressed, you were told to get out. Think scripturally for a moment: a beautiful wedding banquet is awesome, so much so that the very first miracle of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ took place at the Wedding of Cana, in Galilee. The Church reminds us that Jesus while at the wedding banquet sanctified marriage as a sacrament for all times.

As I said, the wedding day, when properly celebrated, is filled with joy and love for the newlyweds, their families – especially their parents – for ring bearers and flower girls, for bridesmaids and groomsmen, best men and matrons of honor … for the Nuptial Mass, and for celebrating at the banquet, for the wedding day … so much so that our celebration of every Mass is an awesome banquet in Christ. So much so, even our vision of Heaven is likened to a celestial Wedding Banquet.

The key then to an awesome wedding is that the bridegroom and bride as well as invited guests all wear the proper garments. Really … really, I believe … Jesus Christ, our Lord, tells us that every day of our lives we must be dressed in the proper garments, choosing to be clothed with respect for the Lord and for one another, clothed with Faith, Hope, and most of all, clothed with Charity for one another. Otherwise, we’re not acceptably clothed at all – what an insult to our Lord and Savior, to our Blessed Mother, and to the Saints!

There’s an old saying: “The wedding was beautiful … now, what about the marriage?” I say that the very same thing applies to our life: we are invited by Jesus Christ to be part of His Heavenly Banquet, prefigured in our celebration of the Mass … now what about our daily lives? Are our daily lives clothed with respect for the Lord? For one another? Are we clothed in Faith, Hope, and Charity? Are we focused on the “glitches” of our own self-interest or will we recall Him to whose awesome wedding banquet we now come …

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

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.

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 he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

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.

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.