– Rev. Fr. David Okolie
Dearest friends, have you taken time to observe this TRUTH about our human existence: that normally people are INVITED for special occasions at different spots and conditions but when ATTENDING the occasion, they normally get prepared? For example, as a young man preparing for wedding, you can meet and invite your friends and others at different spots during the course of the preparation; some at the market places, others at their workshops, some at home and others on the road while on transit, etc. All those who received the invitation and wish to attend the occasion would begin to prepare towards it in terms of the choice of fashion, gifts to present, etc.
Now, I have taken time to draw up the above analogy in order to make clear what God really expects from us now that he has INVITED all of us to the banquet in His Kingdom. Though this INVITATION has no LIMITATION (i.e both ‘SINNERS’ and ‘VIRTUOUS’ are invited), but while attending, He expects the ‘SINNERS‘ not to attend while still remaining in their SINS. So, just like the example we drew up above, since we have been invited, we should struggle to get ready to attend by rejecting SINS and then struggling to be VIRTUOUS.
The above position contradicts the ERRONEOUS ideology that is widespread in our world today wherein a number of preachers and ministers give people with QUESTIONABLE and IMMORAL characters and lifestyles the assurance that God would accept them the way they are under the guise that our God is too MERCIFUL. This is simply the height of DECEPTION! Thus, the Scripture affirms: “Your prophets have seen FALSE and FOOLISH things for you. And they have not laid open your SINS, so as to provoke you to REPENTANCE…” (cf. Lam 2:14). All of us, both preachers and the people should know that God LOVES SINNERS but He also HATES SINS. Thus, the Catechism affirms:
Jesus invites SINNERS to the table of the kingdom: “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners”… He invites them to that CONVERSION without which one CANNOT enter the kingdom… (cf. CCC n. 545).
We pray the Blessed Virgin Mary to always support us with her powerful intercession. Amen🙏🏼
Happy Sunday and remain blessed!
(cf. CATECHESIS ‘NKUZI NKE OKWUKWE’ FOR THE 28TH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR (A);
READINGS: R1: Is 25:6-10a, R2: Phil 4:12-14.19-20, Gosp. Matt 22:1-14)
