Brothers and Sisters,

A few weeks ago, with special permission, I was able to confirm a group of young people from our parish.  I recall a conversation I had with one of the persons a few days before the Confirmation ceremony.  For private reasons, she was unable to appear in church in a nice dress, and so she doubted she would be able to receive this sacrament.

The lesson elicited for all of us in today’s Gospel is this, that it is not enough to just show up.  We also must be properly dressed for the feast.  But we need to ask:  what clothes are available to us?  What does God want us to wear?  What outfit is suitable for this Banquet?

St. Paul describes proper garments in two of his letters.  In his Letter to the Colossians he writes: “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience . . . And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection.”  (Col 3: 12-14)  In the Letter to the Ephesians, he speaks of our clothing as spiritual armor:  “Therefore put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground.  So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace.  In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all flaming arrows of the evil one.  And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”  (Eph 6: 13-17) This is easy to understand:  the wedding garments God wants us to put on are woven with deeds of faith, love, hope, goodness, compassion, humility, patience, gentleness, truth, holiness.

It would be worth it to find your own “Baptismal garment” . . . That garment might remind you of something very important . . . A reminder of your call to holiness.

And this is how I would like to see you clothed in our St. Constance Parish Church.

Your Priest,

Fr. Paul