Whenever we are invited to a special occasion in a banquet hall, the first two things we look for is who we are going to sit at table with and how close we will be to the speakers. Every week we come to church and probably have our favorite seat or section. But the real treasure is being able to focus on who we are there for and who we are there with. In the Gospel for today’s Mass (Luke 14:1, 7-14), Jesus tells the parable about choosing a seat at a wedding banquet. It is not really about choosing a seat but why we are there and how we will be part of the banquet. Coming to Mass is not about choosing a seat but why we are there and how we are part of the celebration. The moment we walk in the door Jesus is our welcome host. He is delighted we are there and speaks His words to us from the Scriptures, listens to our prayers of praise, thanks, sorrow, and petition and feeds us with His very self in Holy Communion. How delighted are we when we come into our church building and into the very presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament?

At times it is good to know the right people in the right places. They give us information we need and entree to places or people we wish to see. Children know and have complete confidence that mom and dad will take care of them and their needs. As we get older we assume responsibility for ourselves and others.

We build and progress on what those before us have discovered and done. We see the pluses and minuses. In Jesus we see beyond innovation and scientific progress to the basic core and truth of who we are and the ultimate good we are capable of. Jesus did not complain about his doubters, critics, or enemies but lived who He was as one of us to the fullest extent possible. He rose above doubt, skeptics, and opponents to live pure truth and to be a human being in the best sense possible. In Him we see it is not what we can do or want to do, but what we should do and be to be fully alive in the very image in which we have been created - the very image and likeness of God Himself.

I am always struck and caused to reflect when I read these words from the Gospel for today’s Mass (Luke 12:32 -3-48): “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” What have we been entrusted with in the first place? First and foremost is the gift of life. How blessed we are to have been given the gift of life from our parents and for all the love that they have nurtured us with. In spite of all the anger and chaos in our nation we are truly blessed to live in America, especially those of us who are citizens.