The Feast of St Bernard of Clairvaux.

“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." (Matthew 22: 1 - 3).

Thursday 20th August 2020, 20th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of a Giant: St Bernard of Clairvaux. (1090 - 1153). French Cistersian Abbot. A man of great zeal for the Church. Renowned theologian and orator. I remember Bernard best because of the Memorare Prayer that he left the Church. The Memorare is one of the most popular prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary recited by many Catholics daily.

Our key Scripture for today from the Parable of the Wedding Feast (Matthew 22: 1 - 14) is for me the saddest parable in the Gospels. Let us see why. The Wedding Feast represents the Eucharist,  a type of the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. The Host is Abba Father and the Wedding is for the Son, Jesus. The honored and invited guests are you and me. The invited guests ignored the invitation and went about their businesses none of which was urgent. They delivered the ultimate insult to the King who invited them to come and feast sumptuously without cost. (Cf Isaiah 55: 1 - 3).

This is how the most Holy Eucharist is treated today. It is reckoned that less than 25 % of Catholics answer the weekly invitation to the Weeding Feast of the Lamb. Some who show up manifest a high degree of disrespect by not wearing the wedding garment. At the end of the Mass, many rush out without the courtesy of a simple "Thank You Jesus."

My friends, you see why this parable is an invitation for us to examine our conscience and resolve to do what is right and honorable. Honor Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist.

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirst.blogspot.com