When imagining God's heavenly kingdom, we might think of a lavish banquet or event we once attended that surpassed all our hopes and expectations, Fr. David Vivero recently reflected.

"Our readings have similarities," Vivero, pastor of All Souls Catholic Church in Sanford, said in the Oct. 11 bulletin. Isaiah uses a banquet; Jesus uses a wedding celebration to capture all this wonder and joy for us to remember forever. For those who respond to this invitation, the Lord promises, 'I will be with you forever,' 'I will not leave you orphans.' He invites us to come out of love with Him. As we acclaim in the Psalms, 'Living in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.'"

But there are two troublesome things going on regarding the celebration. 

"There are two puzzles that are spoiling the banquet," Vivero said. "One is guests who do not want to come, and the other is the man without the wedding garment. To this day, this invitation remains of less importance; therefore, the quality of reverence and giving 'honor to owner' is undermined. How do we honor someone if we keep on rejecting them? What virtue or behavior do we display while participating in the Mass as the Lord invites us to the sacred mystery of faith?"

When looking at the banquet again, we see that it is meant to nourish us and our advocacy for the rosary. Jesus invites us to join him at his banquet to advocate during the Month of the Holy Rosary. 

"Should we place our thoughts and actions together in honoring God and His creation?" Fr. Vivero asked in the bulletin. "My thoughts and prayers to our dedicated volunteers who quietly work and support the pregnancy centers, prison ministries and health facilities in promoting and defending human life at all levels. While our theology teaches us about the eternal promise of joy, it also warns us of losing that promise unless we allow the providence of God to transform and renew us into His likeness. While this communion is open for all, it is also meant to be shared."