Friends, vows in scripture are serious business. Also in our own day. Seriously consider before making a vow to God. Three days ago, a visiting priest, Father Larry Jerge, shared that August 16th marked the 60th anniversary of his first vows to live the evangelical vows of voluntary poverty, perpetual chastity, and perfect obedience. Wow!
That is a lifetime of serious commitment. In religious community you spend one year of discernment, then a year of novitiate and at the conclusion of that year you may petition, to make a temporary vow for one year at a time. After several years in temporary vows you can ask for final vows, a commitment that will last until death. Think how serious that is.
Think also of the Wedding vows made to God and to another person also until death. Wow! Then think of Jephthah and his vow to God to offer in sacrifice the first person to come through the door of his home. Wow! His own daughter. The clear message: vows are serious business. Vows to God a super-serious.
Now, think of another wedding vow. The one Jesus refers to in the Gospel parable. The feast is ready, but those called to a relationship with the King do not accept it so he reached out to others inviting them to the wedding feast of the King.
One of the delights of my life in the recent past was to serve in residence at Saint Monica’s in Santa Monica, CA for 14 years. It was often the case that 70 0r 80 adults and a few children would be welcomed into full communion with the Church, if already baptized and usually about half of the number were adults being baptized. The monsignor loved to remove his outer vestments when it came time to baptize and step right into the baptismal font, with his alb on causing a few wows and oohs and ahhs to be whispered by new members of the congregation. Then, one by one he would pour water over them and then they would be given a towel and sent into the sacristy to be dried and clothed in a white garment, just like the wedding garment in the parable.
We received the “wedding garment” of sanctifying grace in Baptism, and we receive additional graces to grow it through the other Sacraments. Our participation in the Eucharistic celebration and in personal and family prayers helps us to restore to lead Spirit-filled lives. Jesus nourishes us in the Church through the proclamation of word of God and through His own Body and Blood in the Holy Communion. He has vowed to forgive the sins of baptized Christians in the sacrament of confession.
If our wedding garment is soiled or not suitable, He can restore it to pristine beauty by absolving our sins through the power of Absolution. What a family we belong to. Amen.
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Father Wilfred J. Raymond, C.S.C. (Father Willy), a native of Old Town, Maine, is the eighth of 12 children. He joined the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1964 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1971. He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Stonehill College in 1967 and a master’s in Theology from the University of Notre Dame in 1971. He served in ministry at Stonehill College (1979-1992), Holy Cross leadership (1994-2000), National Director of Family Theater Productions, Hollywood (2000-2014), and President of Holy Cross Family Ministries (2014-2022). In addition to English, he is conversant in French and Spanish. He remains a diehard fan of the Boston Red Sox, even though he has served as Chaplain for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
