Father Michael's Thoughts This Week

WEEKLY THOUGHTS 22nd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

AUGUST 31, 2025

My Dear Friends, 

Welcome to the celebration of the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary time and the last Sunday in the month of August. Let us be thankful to God for all the blessings received over the month. Let us also keep in our prayers the parents of the lives lost and injured in the shooting at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis as our Bishop Barry C. Knestout requested in his statement on the incident.

Last Sunday we reflected on Jesus’ response to “will a few people be saved?” Jesus had already set standards for salvation and judgement at end of time. Jesus advised us to tread by and go through the narrow door or gate. This requires self-discipline, enduring trials and pain. This remains a challenge to us all called to be the disciples of Jesus.

In the Gospel of Luke 14: 7-14 Jesus gives another aspect or condition for eternal life and salvation that surrounds food. Meals are occasions of sharing besides nourishing our bodies, hunger and thirst. At the time of Jesus, the Pharisees were sensitive not to accept an invitation to eat at the home of a tax collector as they were considered public sinners.  

In the parable, Jesus warns invited guests at the banquet to wait at the back before being seated, possibly as the practice at many eating places. This advice is very important for one to find his or her true place especially in the kingdom of God. Humility is one of the basic requirements for one to enter the heavenly banquet.

On addition to humility, invitations should never be limited to friends who would repay back for a similar invitation. Jesus suggests inviting the poor, crippled, lame and blind. This category is the real source of blessing and a key to the eternal banquet.

Possibly Jesus was amused by the behavior of the Pharisees and scribes as they scrambled for the places of honor at banquets. It was pride that was pushing them to behave with disrespect. Jesus with all due respect and humility took the last position and saw the enfolding drama. 

Jesus explained that those who push themselves would be envied and disliked and those who put others first will be respected.  By his nature, Jesus is humble, a friend of the poor and rejected. Indeed, the rich and powerful were enemies to Jesus.  Jesus wants us to share into his kingdom by being compassionate, loving and kind to the poor. Let’s extend small acts of kindness to all our poor brothers and sisters materially. Loneliness is a real poverty to tackle in our lives and society.

Have a great week and God bless you in the coming month of September.