the secret of life

Isaiah 25:6-10; Psalm 23 I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; Philipians 4:12-14;19-20; Mt 22:1-14

First a brief overview of the gospel. Over the past three weeks, we have been listening to Jesus tell parables. Each of the parable offer a unique perspective on life in the kingdom. In fact, parables taken collective offer us a glimpse at the cut and contour of kingdom living.

This is important.

This weeks parable does the same.
The parable is about a King whose son is getting married. He invites the guest and they refuse to come. He sends out another reminder and not only do they refuse to come but they treat the servants badly, even killing them.

Now of course hearing this we know this is not going to turn out well for them who refuse.

the act of refusal is an act of rebellion. The refusal to attend the marriage feast of the King's son, is in some sense a refusal to accept the son as heir, as future king. The refusal to come is act against loyalty to the throne. Certainly, no king would stand for this.

The first sent of people are the scribes and pharisees and religious elite of JEsus time. They refused the invitation the King sends. Jesus of course is the one who is getting married, the bridegroom.

After the rebellion is put down then their goes out an open invitation to anyone and everyone. The servants rounded up the good and the bad alike. The good, the bad and the ugly get the chance of a life time. The invitation is undeserved and free.

They all jump at the opportunity. Of course folks the good the bad and the ugly are You and I.

The king, now excited and satisfied that the banquet is filled and the feast is being celebrated as it should be, arrives and mingles with the guest.

HE finds one who does not have a wedding garment. Now it appears that in the time of Jesus, if someone were to show up at a wedding feast without the proper attire then one would be provided. It is like going to a restaurant that requires a coat and tie. If you show up and don't have one then usually they have some set a side that can be used.

IT seems this particular guest though having been offered a garment refused.

Perhaps he thought that it didn't matter what he wore.

I hear this quite a bit from folks. They will say it doesn't matter what I look like God will accept me as I am.

OR they will say God doesn't care how I dress.

Well, Usually I tell then it is inadequate to say God doesn't care.  God cares absolutely and eternally. The issue isn't whether God cares, the issue is whether we care.

Just because the invitation is free and undeserved doesn't mean God lowers his standards.  Even God has standards.

The invitation is meant to give us courage to rise and meet the standard set before us. The standard of Course is Christ. We have all been baptized in Christ. We received a white garment at baptism with these words, "you have been clothed with Christ."

God provides the garments for us and how often we refuse.

God cares. Do we?
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Now this past week we witnessed the passing of Steve Jobs. He is the mastermind and architect behind Macintosh. HE made the apple a universal symbol of communication. He changed the way we communicate and exchange information. He gave us the iPhone, iPad, iPod and itunes.

He died at the age of 56 after a 7 year battle with cancer.

A few years ago he was speak about this experience at a commencement speech at a graduating class.

He spoke about his experience after the doctors gave him the news of cancer and in fact told him he was going to die soon.

He said after that day, every morning he woke up he would go into the bathroom and look at himself in the mirror and ask himself the same question, "If today was going to be my last day alive, would I still do what I was planning on doing today."

Every day he would ask himself the same question.

He said if he answered "No" consecutive days in a row then he knew something had to change.

He said, remembering that he was going to die soon was the best tool he ever encountered. In the face of death, all external expectation, all pride, all fear of failure faded away.

It was remembering he was dying that freed him from falling into the trap of thinking he had something to lose.  Before the face of death, he said, we all stand naked.

In the face of death, we all stand naked. Think about that for a moment.

IT is true.  Death is the great equalizer.  None of us get out of here a live.  In the face of death we all stand naked.

Now think about today's psalm. Psalm 23 is important.

We all know PSalm 23 or at least we should. "The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I should want. In green pastures he gives me repose, beside restful waters he leads me and refreshes my soul. He guides me in right paths for his name sake. Even though I walk in the valley of death, i fear no evil; for yo are at m side with your rod and staff that give me courage...."

It is beautiful psalm. It is the first scripture I ever put to memory. My CCD teacher asked us to memorize some scripture. I opened the bible and I found Psalm 23. It moved me. SO i put to memory.

It has stuck with me ever since.

In fact, every time I go to anoint someone who got bad news about their health or If I go to give some one the last rights in preparation for dying, I always start with Psalm 23. I want that to be on the persons mind and heart as they head down the next journey.

Think about Psalm 23 again. Hear the words, "He guides me in right paths for his namesake. THough I walk in the valley of death, I fear no evil, you are at my side with your rod and staff that give me courage."

There it is. The nearness of God transforms reality as we know it. The fact the Good shepherd leads us even the valley of death, the valley of death loses its danger, it is emptied of its threat.

It is true that in the face of death we stand naked, but in faith we never stand alone, the Good Shepherd is always at our side.


There is the beauty and truth of a life of faith. We never go alone. No matter the circumstances, no matter the road we travel. If we do it in sincere faith then on roads shall become that pathway that leads us to green pastures of repose.

No matter the road, if we walk in Christ then we shall arrive where we have always wanted to be: to dwell in the house of the lord all the days of my life.

We do not go alone. Naked yes, alone never.

This is what St. PAul speaks about in the second reading when he says, "I have learned the secret of life."

The secret of life. How many of us look for the secret of life, the secret of happiness. How many of us want the inside scoop on such things. ANd here St. Paul spells it our for us.

"I have learned the secret of life, of being well fed or going hungry, of living in abundance or being in need. I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me."

There it is  the secret of life. No matter the circumstance, In faith we do not go alone. We have one who has already gone before us. We have one who has experiences all the things we experience. We have one who has already gone down the road of death and has conquered.

The secret of life: we do not go alone.

We know this. We believe this. We profess this. It is time to live it.

Naked perhaps, alone never.