Gospel reading of Oct. 11, 2026: Matthew 22:1-14
In this issue:
Children’s story: Jesus compares heaven to a wedding feast
Essay Question
Bible Accent: Jesus performed his first public miracle at a wedding feast.
Spotlight on the Saints: St. Paul of the Cross
Puzzle: True or false
One day, Jesus was teaching in the Temple area. After the chief priests and elders of the people questioned his authority to do so, Jesus told some parables that were directed toward them.
In one of the parables, Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.
“He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come,” Jesus said.
The king again sent his servants to summon the invited guests.
“Tell those invited: ‘Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast,’” the king instructed his servants.
Some of the invited guests simply ignored the invitation and went away to their farms or businesses.
The rest of the invited guests reacted violently by putting their hands on the servants, mistreating them and killing them.
When the king found out what had happened, he was furious.
The king sent his troops to destroy the murderers and burn their city.
He then gave a new task to his remaining servants.
“The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come,” the king said. “Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.”
The servants went out into the streets and gathered all the good people and bad people that they found. Soon the banquet hall was filled with guests.
The king came in to meet the guests. He noticed one man was not dressed in a wedding garment, which would have been provided to him when he entered the hall.
The king went to speak with the man.
“My friend,” the king said, “how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?”
Instead of answering the king, the man remained silent.
The king turned to his attendants.
“Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth,” the king instructed.
“Many are invited, but few are chosen,” Jesus said.
READ MORE ABOUT IT:
Matthew 22
Q&A
1. To whom was Jesus’ parable directed?
2. What was the king trying to get the invited guests to do?
Essay Question
When have you accepted or rejected an invitation, and why?
Bible Accent
Jesus performed his first public miracle at a wedding feast.
In John 2:1, we read that Jesus, the apostles and Jesus’ mother, Mary, were attending a wedding in Cana.
When the wine ran short, Mary approached Jesus.
“They have no wine,” she said.
Jesus looked at his mother.
“Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come,” he replied.
His mother turned to the servers.
“Do whatever he tells you,” she said.
There were six empty stone jars for Jewish ceremonial washings. Each jar could hold 20 to 30 gallons of water.
“Fill the jars with water,” Jesus instructed the servers, who filled the jars to the brim.
After the jars were filled with water, Jesus told the servers to draw some and take it to the headwaiter.
The headwaiter tasted the water, which Jesus had turned into wine.
The headwaiter called the bridegroom.
“Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one,” he headwaiter said, “but you have kept the good wine until now.”
Spotlight on the Saints: St. Paul of the Cross
Paolo Francesco Danei was born into a poor but noble family in Ovada, northern Italy, in 1694. He lived an austere life even as a teen.
He served in the Venetian army for a year and then returned to leading a monk-like life of prayer and penance.
In 1720, he had a vision of Our Lady, who told him to start an order to preach Christ’s passion. With his bishop’s approval, he founded the Discalced Clerks of the Most Holy Cross and Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which he led for the rest of his life. Passionists were soon doing missions, retreats and spiritual direction throughout Italy.
St. Paul died in 1775, and we remember him on Oct. 20.
Puzzle
Using the hints provided, put a T next to the sentences about Jesus’ parables that are true and an F next to the ones that are false.
___ 1. A wise man built his house on sand. (Matthew 7:24)
___ 2. A good Samaritan cared for an injured man. (Luke 10:33-34)
___ 3. A sinful tax collector prayed for God’s mercy. (Luke 18:13)
___ 4. Tenant farmers gladly gave their landlord’s servants produce from the vineyard they were leasing. (Mark 12:1-5)
Answers: 1. F; 2. T; 3. T; 4. F
