28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
In our reading, the prophet Isaiah is telling the people about a great banquet which God will provide. It will have good food and will be celebrated on God’s holy mountain. There will not be suffering, no evil, and no tears. All will be filled with joy which will last forever.
In our gospel, Jesus was talking to the chief priests and leaders. He told a parable of a king who was having a big feast for his son who was getting married. He sent his servants to get the people who were invited but they would not come to the feast. They were too busy with other things. The king sent out the servants again to invite everyone else to the feast. Soon the wedding hall was filled with people. Will you accept your invitation to Jesus' banquet during the mass or do you have other plans?
Special Saint/Feast Day – St. Teresa of Avila – October 15th
Teresa was born in Avila, Spain on March 28, 1515. Teresa and her brother Rodrigo loved to read about the lives of saints and martyrs. They secretly ran away to somewhere far away where they hoped to die for Jesus. An uncle saw them and brought them back to their worried mother.
Then they tried to live like hermits in their garden but they could not find enough rocks to build a hut to live in.
When Teresa was a teenager, she started reading many books and she lost her love for prayer.
After she became sick, she read a book about St. Jerome. She made up her mind to become a bride of Jesus so she entered the Carmelite Order in 1536.
As a nun, Teresa still found it hard to pray. She wasted her time on other things.
One day, she decided to live for Jesus alone. She was able to hear Jesus speak to her. She learned to pray properly.
Sr. Teresa opened 16 new Carmelite convents with nuns who wanted to live holy lives. They prayed with great love and worked hard at their daily work.
Sr. Teresa died on October 4, 1582.
Whenever we need a little “spiritual push” to pray with more attention and love, we can ask St. Teresa. We can ask her to help us find practical ways to fit prayer time into every day.