Think of one of your friends. How did you meet? If it's a cousin or sister, you grew up together. Maybe you met someone else in school, or because you live near each other or both like swings at the park. There are many ways to meet friends -- as Jesus tells us in this week's Gospel (Matthew 22:1-14).
"The kingdom of heaven," Jesus taught, "is like a king who gave a wedding feast. The people he invited wouldn't come, so he told his servants, `Go out and invite whoever you see.' The servants filled the hall with people, good and bad together. Jesus added, "Many are invited, but few are chosen."
Who's your best friend? It might be a classmate, a neighbor or even a pet. Some friends are chosen: You pick out a dog at the animal shelter or sit next to someone friendly at school. You could get a great friend; other times, the person isn't friendly after all.
The king in Jesus' story chose some friends. He asked them to come to his feast -- but like a person who isn't friendly to you, the king's friends didn't come to the party.
Meeting new friends can be scary. Just because you both like swings doesn't mean you'll be friends! Even sisters and cousins aren't always close. You have to try hard to make a friend.
The king in the story was brave: He asked everyone to his party. With lots of people, he thought, he might find friends. It worked! His new friends weren't those he expected, but they were just as good.
The king was really God, who wants to be friends and invite us all to heaven, a real "party." Sometimes, we act like the people who turned away God's invitation: We don't talk to God and treat others badly. That's not being a good friend.
You can be like the other friends. Even if someone isn't friendly, be nice. Maybe they're just scared of new people! Everyone is welcome at God's party, but not everyone goes. If you want to take God's invitation to heaven, be a friend to someone who needs one!
PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, teach me to be friendly to everyone -- not just my best friends. Amen!
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