Read or listen to this Sunday’s Mass readings here.

• Isaiah 25:6-10a
• Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20
• Matthew 22:1-14

It was a gusty fall morning.  The Pauline kids awoke to the sweet aroma of their first hot chocolate of the season.  Dad was already in the kitchen polishing off his second cup.  He seemed to be in a hurry.

“Dad, don’t gulp that hot chocolate down so fast!” Vincent chuckled.  “You’ll burn your tongue!”

“Well, Vincent, I have a good reason to hurry things up this morning.  I’m getting ready for another encore presentation of … the Pauline Family Gospel Action Theater!”

Vincent grinned from ear to ear.  He loved the Pauline Family Gospel Action Theater.  That was when the family would act out the Sunday’s Gospel reading.  It was great fun!  It made the Gospel reading really come alive for everyone!

Soon Dad called the family into the living room.  With the hot chocolate marshmallow cream still adorning their lips, they all took their places.

Dad popped out from the hall door dressed as a king.  He had a ding-dong school bell in his hand.

“What’s the ding-dong bell for, Dad?” Lucy asked.

“Well, Kids, I need it to call attention to my words.  For the Gospel reading this morning, I’m going to tell you the story first, and then when we all have a better understanding of the parable message, I’ll read the passage from Matthew, Chapter 22.  Are you guys ready?”

“Sure thing, Dad!” they all exclaimed.

Dad began, “Once there was a king who wanted to give a big party for his son.  The king went through the town ringing his bell and crying out, ‘Come to my party!  Come to my party!’  But no one paid any attention to him.  He then cried out even louder, ‘Come to my party!  Come to my party!  I’ve made the best food.  Everyone can eat their fill!’  But everyone looked at the king strangely, and went on their way!”

Dad was really getting into his storytelling now.  With his bell fiercely ringing, he went on.  “The king kept inviting everyone, ‘Come to my party!’ but the people were being rude.  They ignored the king and insulted his servants.  So the king said to his servants, ‘The people here aren’t fit to come to my party.  Go tell the people in other towns and along the roads that I have a great party prepared!’  So the servants of the king went outside the city.  ‘Come to the party!’ the king’s servants told everyone, and the people filled the hall.”

Ta-Da!  Dad stood in front of his family with his crown tilted from all the action.  “Now,” he said, a little out of breath, “Let’s read Matthew’s Gospel passage and then talk about what it means.”

Dad opened his Bible for the Scripture reading.  Soon he asked, “Who can tell me how this applies to the eternal banquet that is prepared for us in heaven?”

“That’s easy!” Mary Clare said.  “God is always inviting us to celebrate with Him and to reach heaven.  Some people accept God’s invitation and, sadly, some people don’t.”

“Excellent, Mary Clare!” Dad replied, “But do we have to wait for heaven to join the celebration?”

“No way, Dad!” Vincent answered.  “Each of the sacraments is a celebration.  Just like the king kept saying, ‘Come to my party,’ Jesus tells us to celebrate with Him each time we receive one of the sacraments.”

Dad looked at his watch and got a gleam in his eye.  “Shhhh! … do you kids hear that?”

“Hear what, Dad?” Lucy asked, not hearing a sound.

Dad smiled, “I hear a small little voice saying, ‘Come to my party!  Come to my party!’ “

The kids all broke out laughing.  “Dad, that was you!”  Hillary said.

“Well, Hillary,” Dad chuckled.  “Let’s just say that was Jesus telling us to ‘Come to the party’ for the celebration of the Eucharist and Holy Mass!  We can’t be late!”

And with the crown still propped triumphantly on his head, Dad, along with the rest of the family, left for Mass.

““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`
God extends an invitation of salvation to all!

Would you prefer a print a copy of this story?

Our mission is to help parents respond to the Church’s call to be “the first and foremost educators of their children” and to help families grow in the transforming love of God by understanding and living our beautiful Catholic Faith!

Are you looking for more ways to help your family reclaim Sundays and grow closer to Jesus together?

• Help Father dress for Mass with our Priest Paper Doll.
• Learn about the Liturgical Year in a big-picture way with our Liturgical Calendar
• Follow Family Formation’s blog, connect with us on Facebook, and on Instagram.
• Meet the Pauline family.