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“Happy are they who have been invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” —Revelation 19:9
Today is a day of Thanksgiving in the U.S.A. Many people are invited to sumptuous feasts with family and friends, and they happily look forward to the Thanksgiving meal. You can imagine the joy of the hosts when their invited guests appear at the door.
God also has prepared a feast today that by comparison makes a Thanksgiving turkey look like a “disgusting bird” (Rv 18:2). In fact, He has also prepared this feast tomorrow, this weekend, and for all eternity. This feast is the ultimate: “the wedding feast of the Lamb” (Rv 19:9). It is celebrated without pause in heaven, and it is celebrated on earth in the Holy Mass.
As with a Thanksgiving meal, it is easy to imagine God eagerly anticipating the arrival of His guests, for “He invited many” (Lk 14:16). Instead of being thrilled at being invited, the guests incredibly begin “to excuse themselves, one and all” (Lk 14:18). Some simply ignore “the invitation and [go] their way” (see Mt 22:5). Many of the guests are more bothered than thankful to be invited.
Let’s happily and thankfully accept God’s invitation and go to Mass today. As we enter the Church for the feast, let us “enter His gates with thanksgiving, His courts with praise” (Ps 100:4). “Happy are those who are called to His supper!”
Prayer: “I will give thanks to You, O Lord, with all of my heart...I will worship at Your holy temple” (Ps 138:1, 2).
Promise: “When these things begin to happen, stand erect and hold your heads high, for your deliverance is near at hand.” —Lk 21:28
Praise: St. Anthony Peter Dich, a Vietnamese farmer who sowed in the seed-ground of the Spirit (Gal 6:8), was beheaded for sheltering Fr. James Nam and now rejoices in God’s heavenly Kingdom.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
Rescript: In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from October 1, 2022, through November 30, 2022. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio January 3, 2022
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