The Hand of the Lord Will Rest on this Mountain

October 12, 2008

The Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Rev. Joe McCloskey, S.J.

On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines. On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, the web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever. Isaiah 25:6-8

Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find. Matthew 22:9

Piety

The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.
In green pastures you let me graze; to safe waters you lead me; you restore my strength. You guide me along the right path for the sake of your name.
Even when I walk through a dark valley, I fear no harm for you are at my side; your rod and staff give me courage.
You set a table before me as my enemies watch; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Only goodness and love will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come. (Psalm 23)

Study

What value do I put on what the Lord has done for me? I look at the flowers of the fields and realize that God finds us more beautiful than the glorious reds and golds that dot the gardens of our lives. We are surrounded by God‘s love and take it for granted. The hand of the Lord rests on each moment of our lives with a love that is beyond telling. A thousand ways the Lord loves us in each moment and I look for other things to delight my soul. This is the Lord that has saved us and it as if there is a veil over these gifts of the Lord. He has destroyed death forever. Do I hold unto the trinkets of life without appreciating the beauty of this moment of his love?

The Lord can only be found in our now. I reject the Lord by living in the past or waiting for what might be worthwhile that is yet to come. I have the choice to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. The verdant pastures for our repose surround me and the restful waters where he leads me refresh my soul.

The kingdom of heaven is likened to a wedding feast and I am invited to partake of it in all the news of my life. How many times do I ignore the invitation and go elsewhere to my work or to what seems to need doing?

How do I prepare my soul for the coming of the Lord? Putting on the wedding garment requires the good works of my life. He calls to me in the needs of my brothers and sisters and how do I share my abundance with the needy? The feast of the Lord is ready and I need to drink deeply of the stream of life. I can do all things in him who strengthens me. My God will fully supply whatever I need in the glorious riches of Christ Jesus.

Action

The actions of my life speak louder than words. I turn my life over to Jesus my morning offering. I ask him to direct all my words, works and prayers by his gracious assistance and to carry them out by his love in my hearts. I have to offer myself to him for his being able to use me.

He asks our help by our awareness of the needs of our brothers and sisters. The wedding garment that makes us worthy to partake of the feast of his love for us is in the good works of our lives. Nothing happens by accident. There are times when the Lord is anonymous in our lives. But he is always there in our response to his invitation to celebrate with him. We can be sure we are the chosen by our love for one another. We need to give without counting the cost. We need to serve without looking for a return. Then we will know that we are not only the invited, but the chosen of the Lord.