Twenty Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time – October 9, 2011

We Are All Equal In The Eyes Of God

Despite the experiences of life, God does treat us the same. Unfortunately, we will not completely realize this equality until we celebrate eternal life in the Kingdom.

MP3 PODCAST In this week's audio podcast, we discuss equality. While we might not achieve complete equality in society or the marketplace, we believe God treats us all the same. That belief is key to understanding the Kingdom.

FIRST READING The prophet Isaiah wrote words of encouragement in a time of threat. Jerusalem, the holy mount of the Lord, would be a place of peace and equality. The city would be a space for mutual respect and mutual worship.

PSALM Psalm is one of the most beloved psalms in the Bible. It is a song of God's care even in the darkest of times and the toughest of journeys.

SECOND READING In his letter to the Philippians, St. Paul held himself to the community as an example of Christian living. He pointed to God's constant care in his experience of the ups and downs of life.

GOSPEL In Matthew's Gospel. Jesus told the parable of the king wedding feast of his son. The invited nobles refused to attend, so the king invited the commoners. We might miss the import of the story. As an allegory of the Kingdom, the parable proclaimed all are invited and all are equal in the eyes of God the King.

CHILDREN'S READINGS In the story of the first reading, Robert missed his beloved teddy bear, Baby. He panicked when he could not find Baby. When he found his teddy bear, his joy was like the celebration Jerusalem would see when God took away the veil that separated peoples. In the story for the gospel, Danielle planned a surprise birthday party for her best friend. When her best friend could not attend the party due to a family emergency, Danielle and her family decided to throw the party for a teen at a homeless shelter. The party was the best Danielle ever attended.

CATECHISM LINK The Catechism Link for this week explores what the names “Jesus” and “Christ” mean.

FAMILY ACTIVITY In the parable of feast for the king's son, the nobles refused to listen to the invitation. Parties, like the feast, are times to not only converse, but to listen. Throw a “Listening Party” for your family, so family members can speak, and be heard.