15 October 2017

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 25: 6-10
Psalm 22
Philippians 4:12-14,19-20
The Gospel of Matthew 22:1-14

Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people, ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a feast for his son’s wedding. He sent his servants to call those who had been invited, but they would not come. Next he sent some more servants. “Tell those who have been invited” he said “that I have my banquet all prepared my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, everything is ready. Come to the wedding.” But they were not interested: one went off to his farm, another to his business, and the rest seized his servants, maltreated them and killed them. The king was furious. He dispatched his troops, destroyed those murderers and burnt their town. Then he said to his servants, “The wedding is ready; but as those who were invited proved to be unworthy, go to the crossroads in the town and invite everyone you can find to the wedding.” So these servants went out on to the roads and collected together everyone they could find, bad and good alike; and the wedding hall was filled with guests. When the king came in to look at the guests he noticed one man who was not wearing a wedding garment, and said to him, “How did you get in here, my friend, without a wedding garment?” And the man was silent. Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot and throw him out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen.’

Bearing fruit

The marriage garment is the commandments of the Lord, and the works which are done under the Law and the Gospel, and form the clothing of the new man. Whoso among the Christian body shall be found in the Day of Judgment not to have these is straightway condemned. “He said unto him, Friend, How do you come in here, not having a wedding garment?” He calls him “friend,” because he was invited to the sharing as being a friend by faith; but He charges him with want of manners in polluting by his filthy dress the elegance of the wedding entertainment.
For in that day there will be no room for blustering manner, nor power of denial, when all the Angels and the world itself are witnesses against the sinner.
St. Jerome, Catena Aurea

Saints of the week
Mon 16 St. Hedwig, Religious. Also, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin. Also, St. Longinus, Soldier (In our Diocese)
Tue 17 St. Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop, Martyr
Wed 18 St. Luke, Evangelist Feast
Thu 19 Ss. John of Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, priests, and their Companions, Martyrs. Also, St. Paul of the Cross, Priest
Fri 20 St. Cornelius the Centurion (In our Diocese)
Sat 21 St. Hilarion, Abbot Also, Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Psalter Week III

Next Sunday’s Readings
Isaiah 45: 1. 4-6
Psalm 95: 1, 3-5, 7-10
1st Thessalonians 1: 1-5
Matthew 22: 15-21

St. Ignatius, Third Bishop of Antioch, Martyr

Some early ecclesiastical writers accept the legend that Ignatius was the child whom the Saviour took up in His arms, as described in Mark 9:35. It is also believed, and with great probability, that, with his friend Polycarp, he was among the listeners of the Apostle St. John. Ignatius possessed all the sterling qualities of the ideal pastor and a true soldier of Christ in a preeminent degree. Accordingly, when persecution broke out upon the Christians of Syria, first under Domitian then under Trajan, the faithful leader was found prepared and watchful. He was constantly inspiring hope and strength on the weaklings of his flock against the terrors of the persecution. When he was arrested for violating the imperial edict to offer the Roman sacrifices, and inciting others to do so, Ignatius valiantly bore witness to the faith of Christ. He was put in chains and taken to Rome to become the food of wild beasts and a spectacle for the people. This journey was recorded in his letter to the Romans: “From Syria even to Rome I fight with wild beasts, by land and sea, by night and by day, being bound amidst ten leopards, even a company of soldiers, who only grow worse when they are kindly treated.” Despite all this, his journey was a kind of triumph. At several places along the road his fellow-Christians greeted him with words of comfort and reverential homage.
Cf. St. Ignatius of Antioch, Catholic Encyclopedia

Curry and Culture Night Sat 28 October 8pm – midnight at the LPH. Music, dance, food, quiz raffle and more to help Caritas Paphos. Contact Wendy on 9904 0294. Or Kumari on 9663 1888.

Fr. Carlos is doing a sponsored parachute jump for Caritas on the 2nd December. To Sponsor him please see poster in the Coffee Shop.

Christmas Shopping Trip to Nicosia Tues 12 December. 3 stops M & S, Ledra Street near the border (passport required) final stop Ikea. Raffle with prizes. Bus leaves 8am from Debenhams Upper parking, returns around 7 pm. Cost €17 to help Hospice. Call Linda 99562387.

Hymns of Praise: Friday 27 Oct. at 6 pm. All are welcome at Agia Kyriaki Chuch

CARITAS PAPHOS currently needs

• Nοn-perishable food to help about 40 households weekly.  
• Computer whiz to manage crowdfunding appeals.
• Teachers for basic Greek and Transportation of students.

Prayers and donations always help. Contact Wendy Burdon 99 040294.

Mass Times HERE