October 11, 2026

Dear Parishioners,

The Bears-Packers game this Sunday got “flexed” to the 12pm time slot. It was originally scheduled for 3:15pm as one of the top games of the week, but with Caleb Williams being injured and the Packers scuffling, the TV network didn’t feel the game was as compelling nationally. So they demoted it. 

We shouldn’t take it personally. It happens all the time with teams. And last year several Bears games got “flexed” in the positive direction: the Bears were promoted to prime time. “Flexing”--changing the time of a previously scheduled game–isn’t about punishing the bad teams but rewarding the fans with good games. 

Unfortunately, the wedding guests in our Lord’s parable don’t “flex” for the right reason. They refuse the invitation to the prince’s wedding banquet, choosing other activities they find more compelling. But it isn’t that their activities are more compelling. We don’t even hear what those other activities are (Luke’s Gospel version names the activities, but even then those activities still aren’t as good as the wedding banquet). So, why do the guests refuse? Because they don’t like the king. Unlike the NFL and TV networks, this is personal. 

Have you ever had the experience of being “flexed”? Where you were passed up or someone reneged on you? Or where someone neglected you, choosing someone or something over you? It might not have been overt. The neglecting party might not have even been aware they were “flexing” (negatively) you. But you were certainly aware. You wanted this person to love you, to choose you, to sacrifice for you. You wanted to feel special, beloved, seen. It didn’t happen. And you suffered.

If you think hard enough–not that it’s fun to think about these moments–you’ll be able to recall a time when you were hurt in this way. I hope you can pray with this experience. Because, yes, while it was deeply hurtful and sad, there is a truth God wants to tell you. He never “flexes” you. And not just because God is nice and polite. It’s because God deeply desires you. There is nothing better than you, nothing he would choose over you. He would never pass you up.

I’m sure we’re nodding along saying, “Yes, yes, I understand that. God loves me unconditionally.” I’m even nodding numbly as I write it. We know it, but do we really believe it? What does it mean to believe it? To say that you are special isn’t just some throw-away line that we say to everyone. How are you special? Pray with that and ask God to reveal it to you. 

Then, you might pray that God bring someone in your life who “flexes” for you. Some of you may already have that person: a person who has chosen you and loves you, sees you and knows you, and will sacrifice for you. Some of you had that person (most likely in your spouse), but time and familiarity has eroded that special feeling. They’ve “flexed” away from you. Some of you are searching for that person. You deserve it. We all deserve friends and lovers who care for us. It’s not selfish to pray for this person, for this relationship. Because this aids the Body of Christ. We would all be so better off if we had this deep connection with someone.

Finally, you might also pray for the grace to “flex” towards someone, if you haven’t already. You might think you are “flexing” for your spouse or your friend, but are you sure about that? Perfunctorily saying “I love you,” going to work dutifully to make a living for your family, and not cheating or lying isn’t truly “flexing” for the other person. All that stuff is the minimum. Are you making that person feel loved? Do you make them feel beautiful and special? You have the capacity to do that. May we have the grace to do it.

Isaiah speaks of the “mountain of the Lord of Hosts” that has all this great food and wine. This “mountain” does indeed exist, and it’s right before you. It’s the person God has put into your life–or is planning to put into your life. “On this mountain,” says Isaiah, “he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples.” The veil is what prevents someone from seeing your beauty; what prevents you from seeing someone else’s beauty. The veil is what forces you to choose something else far less worthy, like those guests who refused the wedding invitation. When the veil is removed, you can see clearly the pearl of great price right before you, and you can go after it.

One of the graces we receive (hopefully) from the Eucharist is the tearing of the veil and the grace to cherish our treasures. The Eucharist isn’t just about your own personal relationship with God. Sure, that’s important, but there’s something more and even better. The Eucharist matures your heart so that you can love others better. And when you love others better, then you love God better. 

This is why, by the way, you should “want someone to go to Mass.” How often we hear about this “need to go to Mass.” I’m so bothered my grandchildren don’t practice the faith…let’s hope Mass attendance increases…are you evangelizing and inviting people to Church? Why do we want people in Church? So we feel good about ourselves? So we feel assured they aren’t going to hell (which, again, is about us)? It has to be more than this. You should want people to have the Eucharist so that they can have their veils removed, so that they can climb the mountain of the Lord, and so that they can truly make someone feel loved and treasured. May your kingdom come, Lord. 

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In honor of Respect Life and Domestic Violence Awareness month, we will conduct a brief prayer service after communion at the 4:30pm Mass this Saturday, October 10th. May God bless and protect all victims of abuse and may we, as a society, have a greater respect for life.

Tomorrow, Monday, October 12th is Columbus Day. I want to take this opportunity to thank our Knights of Columbus Council for all the good work they do and the prayers they offer for our Church. The Knights will be hosting their annual “Rosary in the Park” at Hodges Park in downtown Park Ridge on Saturday, October 10th.  

Next weekend (October 17-18) the Respect Life Committee will be distributing baby bottles to raise funds and awareness for Aid For Women. The bottles will be collected on November 8th.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. James