Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Homily)
August 16, 2015 11:00 am · Deacon Rick Nevins
Up to about 15 years ago, I was what I would now consider to be a nominal Catholic, or Catholic in name only at best. It's not that I ever denied Church teachings, I just simply didn't know it. I could say that I was a product of my environment, but it's an environment of my own choosing, it was the path that I chose to take at that time. I had no desire to change, and to be quite honest, I was comfortable in my ignorance. If it was not for an invitation that was extended by some men, and the perseverance of my wife, prompt me to attend what turned out to be a life changing retreat, I wouldn't be here today.
In today's first reading, Wisdom extends to each of us an invitation to a great feast. A foreshadowing of the eternal life for those that choose to come and taste the goodness of the Lord. Come eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed, forsake foolishness that you may live; advance in the way of understanding. We would be wise to never to underestimate the value of an invitation. The Christian vocation is an invitation from our loving God to enter into eternal life, to forsake foolishness for the wisdom that can only come from intimate communion with the Blessed Trinity. A communion that begins here and now on Earth.
