The death of the Catholic Church has been predicted many times. Nevertheless, even over the centuries religious faith has waxed and waned along with changes in society. For instance, the Eighteenth Century was very skeptical while the nineteenth was a time of great religious revival. In the media we often get told that the churches are empty. Well, mine is not! It may not be filled with the young, the rich or the trendy but it is certainly not empty. The people we tend to find there are the lowly, the humble and the anonymous. The Gospel today is true, not only for its time, but for today: "The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find into the wedding banquet." (Mtt 22: 8-9) The Lord will not eat alone. The banquet that is the Mass has been set by him at the Last Supper and he invites all nations and peoples to receive of his hospitality. Despite this, we still need to be attentive that our response is not one of entitlement as shown by the man who did not have a wedding robe. The Lord may be generous but he is not a fool. It should not be a surprise, however, that those who attend the Eucharist are a minority: "For many are called, but few are chosen." (Mtt 22: 14)
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