Allocution, Sunday, October 11

 

Today, Sunday, October 11, twenty-eighth Sunday in ordinary time, the gospel according to Saint Matthew, chapter 22, verses 1 to 14, is read in all the Catholic churches of the world.

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Our life is full of celebrations that culminate with banquets, lunches, meals, toasts.

When we were born, our dad and other family members made a toast for the joy of our birth.

When we celebrate our birthday we celebrate it with cake, drinks, parties. When Isaac, Abraham’s son, stopped being breastfed, he held a great banquet. (Genesis 21,8).

When the daughter turns fifteen, there is a big family party that includes the fifteen-year-old’s friends.

In eastern Cuba, when the daughter is born, a drink is prepared, an aliñado, which is drunk on the fifteenth day.

When there are weddings, there are also banquets.

When the son comes from abroad, there are great celebrations.

Jesus loved family meals.

Peter’s mother-in-law, once healed, served food to Jesus, James, John, Peter and Andrew. (Marcos 1, 29-31).

Jesus with the Virgin and his apostles were at the banquet at Cana. (John chapter 2).

Jesus said to feed Jairus’ daughter after he brought her back to life. (Marcos 5, 43).

Jesus fed five thousand men, not counting women and children. (Mark 6, verses 30-44).

At a meal at the house of Simon the leper, a woman poured a very expensive perfume on Jesus’ head, anointing his body in advance for his burial.

Also in Bethany, Jesus used to eat at the house of the brothers Lazarus, Martha and Mary.

There was a great banquet when the father received the bad son who returned home.

At a dinner Jesus instituted the Eucharist, at that dinner he turns the bread and wine into his Body and Blood, which he gives to us as food and commands us to repeat this gesture.

When we go to a birthday banquet, weddings and parties, we all eat. The Mass is a banquet where we are offered the Body and Blood of Christ present in the consecrated bread and wine. We are all invited to this banquet to participate well dressed in love, faith, mercy, purity.

What a shame that not all of us take communion! We are all invited.

What a shame that our children and grandchildren do not take communion! We are all invited.

Lord Jesus, help us so that we all participate in this banquet that leads us to the banquet of eternal life.

Whoever eats this bread and drinks my blood will have eternal life. The resurrected Jesus eats with his disciples in Emmaus and on the shore of the lake.

Jesus invites us to eat with Him and Him, the bread of eternal life.

What happiness to be at the side forever, in the eternal banquet of heaven, of the one who has fed us on this earth!

(Song)

Alfredo wanted to know God and discovered him at a banquet. The little boy Alfredo wanted to know God. He knew it was a long journey to where God lived, so he packed his backpack with muffins and soft drinks and set off.

When he had traveled about 3 blocks, he met the old lady Deysi. She was sitting in the park, watching some pigeons. The boy sat next to Deysi and opened his backpack. He was about to drink his juice when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry, so Alfredo offered her a roll. She accepted it very gratefully. Her smile was so beautiful that Alfredo wanted to see that smile again, so he offered her a soda. Again Deysi smiled her beautiful smile. Alfredo was delighted.

Alfredo and Deysi stayed there all afternoon eating and smiling, but neither of them said a word.

When it began to get dark, Alfredo was already tired and got up to leave. Before he had taken a few steps, he turned around and ran to Deysi and gave her a hug. Deysi gave him the biggest, most beautiful smile.

When Alfredo opened the door of his house, his mother Rosario was surprised by the happiness that Alfredo showed. Rosario asked him what the cause was. Alfredo answered: – I have eaten with God. And you know what? He has the most beautiful smile I have ever seen!

Meanwhile, Deysi, also very happy, returned home. Her daughter Ivón was stunned by the peace that showed on her mother’s face and asked her:
– Mom, what did you do today that made you so happy?
Deysi answered:
– I ate bread and drank soft drinks in the park with God. And you know what? He’s younger than I expected.

(Song)

How so many good things come out of banquets:

-Every Sunday have lunch or dinner with your family. At that lunch or meal we will remember the exploits and teachings of our deceased.

-There we will listen to the wisdom of our grandparents.

-There we will admire the bravery of our young people and fill them with hope.

-There the children will teach us with their innocence.

-There the wife will show her affection to the husband by serving with love, there the husband will contemplate the physical and spiritual beauty of his wife and will congratulate her on the delicious food.

-There we will learn about everyone’s joys and sorrows and we will be enlightened to continue life on better paths.

-There we will invoke the presence of God, and his light, to be happy in this life and after being with Him at the banquet in heaven.

(Song)

Our father…

God save you, Mary…

Saint John XXIII, pray for us.

Saint Soledad Torres Acosta, pray for us.

And the blessing of Almighty God who created us to constitute a beautiful family, the blessing of Jesus Christ, the path of family happiness, the blessing of the Holy Spirit who can achieve unsuspected dreams for those of us who live in our house, descend upon you and remain forever. Amen.

(Song)