St Mary's

Today sermon from samurl

11th October 2026

"May my words and my thoughts be acceptable to you O Lord, my refuge and my redeemer amen.” 

If we reflect on the earthly life of Jesus, we can see and state with great certainty that his whole entire earthly ministry and life revolved around a single, pivotal focus, which is, directing people—their thoughts, actions, and words—towards God, and to achieve this, he employed such methods and approaches that allowed everyone—from the highly learned to the unlettered person—to easily grasp his message, and that is why, throughout his earthly ministry and his life, he used parables, because it is written in Psalm 78:2 that,  

“I will open my mouth in a parable;” 

And that what Jesus did when he was in human form. If we recall Jesus’ earthly life and ministry, he used parables to illustrate truth in vivid and unforgettable ways, because each one of his parables or Biblical story or teaching provides insight into God’s kingdom, that what the Kingdom of God is like, and what the Kingdom of God is not like. Because on one level, parables and Jesus’ teaching were not that difficult to understand, because during his teachings, Jesus used them so masterfully, so that he taught his followers and listeners the moral principles by using simple illustrations about everyday life. And on the other hand, he could teach people about the Kingdom of God, and that what he is doing in today’s Gospel account. 

But before we dig a bit deeper into today’s Gospel passage, it is better to have quick look at the immediate context of today’s Gospel reading. Today’s Gospel reading was taken from Gospel according to Matthew 22:1-14, this means that to understand the context of the Gospel passage read today, we must look at the last few verses of the twenty-first chapter, and if look at the last few verses of the Gospel according to Matthew, we could come to know that this chapter also ends on a parable of the tenants, in which the man planted a vineyard and rented to some people, and when the landowner sent his servants in different phases to collect the fruit, tenants over there seized all of them, and when in the end the landowner sent his son, they killed him. 

If we reflect on the passage read today, we see that this parable also mentions a son; however, this time Jesus presents a different scenario—one that bears a certain resemblance to our own daily lives. 

Today's parable speaks of a king who has invited many people to his son's wedding; yet, we see that none of the invitees are willing to attend the wedding feast, as they have all concocted various excuses. That is why, when the host—the king—learns of this, he tells his servants to go into the markets and streets, inform people about the banquet, and tell them that the king is inviting them to it. 

If I were to receive an invitation from the king of this country or a high-ranking official, I would certainly adjust my schedule to attend the banquet; and I believe that not just I, but many of us, would do the same. For perhaps the issue is not the invitation itself, but rather the identity of the one extending it. And today’s parable clearly illustrates that God is inviting us to enter His Kingdom. 

Through today’s Gospel reading, Jesus is telling us that God is inviting us into his kingdom to enjoy his Son’s feast throughout our life again and again. He is inviting us through his word, via what is happening in our lives, through our conversations with others, and through all the other opportunities which appears in our lives in so many other ways. He is calling us to work for his kingdom, and he is calling us to work in his vineyard. 

But we also need to remember that God’s vineyard is different for each one of us. I read a couple of weeks back in one my mobile devotional applications that, for one person, the vineyard may be raising children and trying to guide them in faith and patience. For another, it may be caring for an elderly parent, or the partner the same as our age. For another it may mean doing our job honestly when taking shortcuts would be easier, helping someone who cannot repay us, making time for someone who needs to talk, or it could be serving in your parish, in any aspect, or choosing to forgive when we would rather hold onto our anger. Although on the surface, these may appear to be very ordinary and small tasks, but they are all invitations for us to work in His field—to work for His kingdom. 

However, if we reflect on our own lives, perhaps at some point we failed to truly grasp the invitation extended by the Lord Jesus; consequently, we may not have even opened it and thus remain unaware of its contents or what it requires of us—or how I ought to prepare myself to attend this banquet. 

It is only natural that whenever we host a gathering, we invite those with whom we share a close bond or who hold significance in our lives. And when these guests attend our banquet or event, we strive to devote equal time to everyone, ensuring that no one feels they are of lesser importance to us. 

God’s invitation for us to enter His Kingdom reflects the value we hold in His eyes—how much He esteems, loves, and cares for us. Through this invitation—found in the Bible—it becomes abundantly clear that we possess such significance and standing in His sight that He gave His only Son for us, so that by placing our faith in Him, we might share in the banquet of His Kingdom. 

While I was doing my morning devotion from one my mobile applications it read it there that,  

“There is something striking about the king in Jesus’ parable. He has already prepared the feast before sending his servants. The guests are not being asked to create the celebration themselves. They are simply being invited to come. This reminds us that our relationship with God does not being from what we can accomplish for him. God is the one who invites. He prepares a place for us and asks us to enter.” 

We just need to remember an invitation to us from is God is not another task or request added to our already busy life, rather it is an invitation for us to come closer to him. We need to remember that Father’s banquet is prepared for us and for all those whom he has called. But the question for us today is, are we ready to accept the invitation. 

Let us reflect on this in silence for a while, and try to find the answer within ourselves. 

May God bless you all. 

Amen.