BRIDGEPORT— The hard work of discipleship requires us to climb the mountain of faith, but the feast of eternal life awaits those who walk with Christ, Bishop Frank J. Caggiano said in his online Mass for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
In his homily the bishop reflected on readings from – Isaiah ( 25: 6-10)6 “On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines,” and on the Gospel of Matthew’s (22:1-14) parable about the King and the wedding guests, “Many are invited but few are chosen.”
The bishop said the two readings come together in the concept of a feast that follows a journey whether to a mountain top or as a wedding guest.
“There is a lesson to be learned that the Lord reminds us of today. The unprepared man was not ready to do what was necessary to enter the feast, to walk the mountain… And so that’s where the challenge lies for you and me. We are called to scale that mountain in discipleship with Christ as our companion.”
The bishop, who grew up in Brooklyn, said the first time he saw a mountain was as a little boy when his parents took him back to their ancestral Italian village on the foothills of the Apennines. He was overwhelmed by their power and majesty, and immediately wanted to climb them.
Describing mountains “as the place where heaven and earth meet,” the bishop said we all have mountains to climb in order to be faithful disciples of Jesus, and we will not falter if we turn to him for his power strength and grace.
“We too are asked to climb the mountain and its end will be feast He promises us because He entered first in His death and resurrection.”
The bishop said the hard work of discipleship involves many steps “first and foremost to become lifetime learners of our own faith” and to fully explore the teachings and rich tradition of the faith that Christ has given us through his Mystical Body.
The hard work also requires “fruitful prayer” and preparation for the sacraments, and the time to reflect after the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
Likewise, scaling the mountain of faith calls us to acts of kindness, charity, accompaniment and works of justice.
“We must climb the mountain to root out racist attitudes and to fight against structures that allow people around the world to spend a day without food, water, a home or security,” the bishop said.
The Bishop concluded his homily by noting that it’s unlikely that he’ll will ever climb a mountain, but noted that “you and I have a far more important mountain to climb.”
“Ask yourself, What is the next step of the mountain you need to take and pray for the grace to take it, mindful of the feast that await us. The Lord is inviting us to the feast. He nourishes us with his word and sacraments along the way and promises us a place at the top of mountain in a feast that will never end.”
In brief remarks before the Final Blessing, the bishop asked people around the diocese to join in the weekly online Family Rosary and to take care of one another, particularly in a time of uncertainty.
“Let us re-double our efforts to reach out to our neighbors and friends in circumstances that may become more challenged as the virus spikes… Let us revolve not to leave anyone behind, so they know someone out there cares for them and has them in mind.”
For more information on the Sunday Family Rosary, visit: https://formationreimagined.org/sundayfamilyrosary/
Bishop’s Online Mass: The Bishop’s Sunday Mass is released online every Sunday morning at 8 a.m. and available for replay throughout the day. To view the Bishop’s Sunday Mass, recorded and published weekly, click this link or visit the YouTube Mass Playlist.
