Do you ever feel like there are things that you want to change to yourself, but no matter how hard you try, it feels impossible? If yes, could it be that you have yet to fully invite the Holy Spirit into your situation?

Today’s First Reading reminds us that it is God who replaces our hearts of stone. It is the Holy Spirit who moves us to obey His commands. On our own, we cannot overcome sin, change our ways, or live holy lives. We need God’s grace to do what’s pleasing in His eyes. No amount of willpower or goalsetting can truly transform us. We will fall short on our own.

God alone can make the impossible possible. That’s why Jesus came to save and make us new. He doesn’t ask us to change by our strength; He offers His Spirit to work in us.

If you’re struggling to follow God’s commands or long for change in your life, surrender it to Him. Ask for a fresh outpouring of His Holy Spirit. Let God do the impossible in your life! 

Teresa G. Dumadag (followgod.teresa@gmail.com) 

reflect

“There are some things that people cannot do, but God can do anything.” (Luke 18:27, CEV)

“Come, Holy Spirit, I need You. Come, Holy Spirit, I pray. Come with Your strength and Your power. Come in Your own special way.” 

St. Bernard of Clairvaux, abbot and Doctor of the Church, pray for us.

God promises that His power and will shall prevail in the end. What remains unknown is how long it will take to be fully realized—it depends on our response to His will. The more we resist, the longer the fulfillment is delayed. But the more we surrender, the sooner His will comes to pass.

²³ Thus says the Lord: I will prove the holiness of my great name, profaned among the nations, in whose midst you have profaned it. Thus the nations shall know that I am the Lord, says the Lord God, when in their sight I prove my holiness through you. ²⁴ For I will take you away from among the nations, gather you from all the foreign lands, and bring you back to your own land. ²⁵ I will sprinkle clean water upon you to cleanse you from all your impurities, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. ²⁶ I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts. 27 I will put my spirit within you and make you live by my statutes, careful to observe my decrees. ²⁸ You shall live in the land I gave your ancestors; you shall be my people, and I will be your God.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19

R: I will pour clean water on you and wash away all your sins.

¹² A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. ¹³ Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. (R) ¹⁴ Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. ¹⁵ I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners shall return to you. (R) ¹⁸ For you are not pleased with sacrifices; should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it. ¹⁹ My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. (R)  

Gospel | Matthew 22:1-14

How often does this parable ring true for us? Every time we choose another activity over prayer, we mirror its lesson. At its core, this parable is about priorities, and our relationship with God must come first. Without Him, our lives become incomplete, vulnerable to disorder. Jesus seeks disciples who remain steadfast—those who finish what they begin and hold firm to their word. 

Gospel Acclamation

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

¹ Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and the elders of the people in parables, saying, ² “The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. ³ He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. ⁴ A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’ ⁵ Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. ⁶ The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. ⁷ The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. ⁸ Then the king said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. ⁹ Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ ¹⁰ The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. ¹¹ But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. ¹² He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. ¹³ Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ ¹⁴ Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

Read the Bible in one year! Read JOB 22 - 25 today.

Have you ever organized a party where none of those whom you invited came? If so, you felt bad about it, didn’t you? This parable of Jesus is about such a feast—the wedding banquet of the son of the king—where those invited did not come. Even at the insistence of the king, they did not heed the invitation. There is a certain phrase here that merits our attention: those who were invited “made light of it”—that is, they did not give importance to the invitation. Because of this, they were deemed “not worthy” of being invited.

At this, the invitation was extended to everyone else—people from the streets—and naturally, the wedding halls were filled with guests. The scene then focuses on the king finding someone who was not wearing the proper attire for the banquet. Unable to answer the king—who asked him why he was not properly garbed for the occasion —he was banished from the wedding hall, thrown into the darkness outside.

This parable was meant for the chief priests and Pharisees, leaders of the Jewish people. The king, who is the Father, has given the invitation primarily for the people of Israel. But alas, they did not give importance to this invitation and refused to believe. Thus, God extended it to all the others who are non-Jews, whether good or bad. Everyone is called. However, even if this is true, those who are called should make an effort to be more worthy of taking part in the wedding banquet—that is, to set aside sinful ways and turn to righteousness.

Fr. Joel Camaya, SDB 

reflection questions

Like the king who invited people to the wedding feast of his son, God invites you to be part of His Kingdom where His Son is King. Do you give importance to this invitation? What old ways should you get rid of in order to be more worthy to take part in the Lord’s banquet? 

Thank You, Lord, for continually inviting us to Your feast, to be part of the Kingdom. Thank You for the Eucharist. Help me to get rid of old bad habits and take on the new person more worthy of Your Kingdom. Amen.

Today, i pray for: _______________________________________