Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

THE HEAVENLY BANQUET

The mountain of the Lord described in today’s first reading is a place where there is no more hunger, no more weeping, and no more division of any kind. We need to pause and ponder these images every now and then, especially given the fact that we live in such a fractured world. The responsorial psalm continues to paint a picture of a place where only goodness and kindness flourish. These readings describe the heavenly banquet, to which God calls each of us through baptism and continues to call us throughout our lives. Let us “RSVP” to God’s invitation and live our lives consistent with gospel values so that one day we will be welcomed to the table of the kingdom.

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Masses for the Week

• Sun. Oct. 11 9:00 AM & 12:00 PM — Spanish
• Mon. Oct. 12 8:30 AM
• Weds. Oct. 14 8:30 AM & 6:30 PM
• Thurs. Oct. 15 8:30 AM
• Fri. Oct. 16 8:30 AM
• Sat. Oct. 17 8:30 AM & 5:30 PM
• Sun. Oct. 18 9:00 AM & 12:00 PM — Spanish

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Sat., Oct. 17 at 1:00 PM.

Announcements

Parish Office Closed This Week

The office will be closed this week.

Fr. Regi in India for October — Fr. Praveen Kumar Covering

Fr. Praveen Kumar will be staying at the rectory and covering for Fr. Regi while he is away.

Religious Education & OCIA — No Classes Today (Fall Break)

Religious Education and OCIA classes will not meet today. Enjoy fall break! Classes resume next Sunday.

Second Collection Today — Maintenance Fund

The 2nd Collection today is for the Maintenance Fund.

World Mission Sunday — Second Collection Next Week

There will be a second collection next week for World Mission Sunday. World Mission Day was first established by Pope Pius XI, beginning in October 1927. This year the Church celebrates the 100th World Mission Day on Sunday, October 18, 2026. As the Church prepares to celebrate this day, Pope Leo XIV calls us to unity in Christ, love, and renewed missionary commitment “with joy and zeal in the Holy Spirit” in his first World Mission Sunday Message: “One in Christ, united in mission.”

Women’s Group — Meeting Weds., Oct. 14 at 10:00 AM

The Women’s Group will meet on Weds. Oct. 14th at 10:00 AM. All ladies of the parish are invited.

Knights of Columbus — Food Drive Oct. 25 to Nov. 15

At Monday night’s meeting it was decided to conduct a non-perishable food drive for those less fortunate in our community. From Sunday Oct. 25 to Sunday November 15, one cardboard box will be placed at the main entrance to the church and one box will be placed at the social hall entrance. The knights greatly appreciate the church’s support for our community. Let’s fill those boxes!

The membership recognized supporting the church’s remodeling and improvement efforts by providing $1,000 towards refurbishing the garage. Everyone is looking forward to seeing the garage’s completion!

Queen of Families Mass — Sunday, Oct. 25 in Nashville

Join Bishop Spalding on Sunday, October 25 at 2:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville for the 3rd annual Queen of Families Mass for those who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, or other loss of a child. All families who have experienced the loss of a child at any stage of life, before or after birth, as well as all the faithful who wish to pray with us in support of these families, are welcome to attend. For more information and resources: nashvillefaithformation.com/queen-families-mass

Please Help Keep Our Church Clean

There has been gum found again in the pew book holders, and now that we have two water dispensers, cups are left in the church and hall. Parents, please make sure your children pick up after themselves. Thank you.

Online Giving

Here is the established QR code for the parish if you would like to make your donation online.

Today’s Readings

First Reading: On this mountain the LORD will make for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines (Isaiah 25:6-10a).

Psalm: I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life (Psalm 23).

Second Reading: God will supply whatever you need (Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20).

Gospel: I have prepared my banquet, and everything is ready. Come to the feast! (Matthew 22:1-14 [1-10]).

Readings for the Week

Monday: Rom 1:1-7; Ps 98:1-4; Lk 11:29-32

Tuesday: Rom 1:16-25; Ps 19:2-5; Lk 11:37-41

Wednesday: 2 Tm 4:10-17b; Ps 145:10-13, 17-18; Lk 10:1-9

Thursday: Rom 3:21-30; Ps 130:1b-6ab; Lk 11:47-54

Friday: Rom 4:1-8; Ps 32:1b-2, 5, 11; Lk 12:1-7

Saturday: Rom 4:13, 16-18; Ps 105:6-9, 42-43; Lk 12:8-12

Sunday: Is 45:1, 4-6; Ps 96:1, 3-5, 7-10; 1 Thes 1:1-5b; Mt 22:15-21

Reflecting on the Word

What is there to celebrate at this Gospel wedding? The original invitees have been killed and the person without the right clothes (really?) has been thrown out. Who are these people who are feasting in the face of death and rejection? How is God represented by the king in this parable?

Every time I have to reflect on this parable with children of about age ten or so, I am hopeful that the children can actually access the parable without the burden of centuries of interpretations that are so full of judgment. And the children always deliver. They question the callousness and cruelty in this parable and the depiction of God who is love and cannot believe that this depiction is true. So we start to pull it apart. “Maybe they refused to come because they were busy...maybe he was so poor that he didn’t have anything better to wear...isn’t that even more reason for him to be included in the feast? Oh, wait! If this is like the eucharist, does this mean that everyone is invited? What if Jesus means that we must show hospitality to everyone?” They don’t settle on one answer. And they are right. There is much to ponder with this very difficult parable.

Excerpted from Living the Word

Mission Statement

We, the members of Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church, recognize and respect our diverse and multicultural character. By the grace of God, we will nurture our spiritual community through prayer, service, and example to become one family in Christ.

Adoration

8:00 AM — 1st Saturday of the month

7:00 PM — 1st & 3rd Friday (Spanish)