Brothers and sisters: I know how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I can do all things in him who strengthens me. // Philippians 4:12
A few years ago, my husband Paul took me to Italy to celebrate my birthday. Our good friend Father Tim was working at the Pontifical North American College in Rome and arranged transportation for us from the airport to where we were staying near him on his campus.
When we got off the plane, our driver was waiting with our name on a placard, and, after grabbing our luggage, we headed to a sleek Mercedes sedan. We rode in luxury through the streets of the Eternal City on our way to our apartment for the next ten days. It was a dream.
For the rest of our trip we traveled less extravagantly, taking the train as we ventured out of Rome to other parts of the country. But man, that Mercedes! What a treat!
The readings for today focus on humble circumstances and on abundance, and how God can meet us and be with us in both. But also, as the First Reading notes, the Lord offers us not just “rich food and choice wines,” but He makes them even better as" juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines” (Isaiah 25:6).
God wants to give us every good thing, and while it’s easy to focus on the temporal, physical world, the truth is, He offers something far better—deep, abiding good and prosperity that only He can give.
“My God will fully supply whatever you need,” says Saint Paul in the Second Reading, “in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
Far better than a sleek (and very fun) ride in a fancy car is the feast of the Lord.
Sister, what is the feast God is inviting us to that we would be unwilling to attend like the people in the Gospel parable for today (see Matthew 22:1-14)? What holds us back from going? The Scriptures today all point to a generous God who is eager to walk beside us.
Let us pray for the grace to be willing to attend this feast, to say yes to the goodness God has to give.
Rachel Balducci is a writer and speaker and co-host of the Gist on CatholicTV. She has a Masters degree from the Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia and teaches at Augusta University and is working on her doctorate in Religion at the University of Georgia. She and her husband Paul have five sons and one daughter and are part of an intentional Christian community in Augusta, Georgia. Find out more about her here.
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