Pastor’s Ponderings from the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time with Fr. Dave Nuss
Have you ever received an invitation and hesitated, unsure if you really belonged there? God’s invitation to us is simple: Come closer.
In this week’s Pastor’s Ponderings, Fr. Dave Nuss reflects on the parable of the wedding feast from Sunday’s Gospel (Matthew 22:1–14), in which a king invites guests to celebrate his son.
The king represents God the Father, the son represents Jesus, and the invited guests represent each of us. God keeps inviting us into a deeper relationship with Him. The question is how we respond.
Fr. Dave says it begins with a sincere desire, expressed in a simple prayer:
“Let me draw closer to You, Jesus. Please bring me closer to You.”
What the Parable of the Wedding Feast Teaches About God’s Love
Fr. Dave draws on St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little Flower, to describe how God’s love transforms us. St. Thérèse compared herself to a piece of iron that must enter a fiery furnace to become what it was made to be. We are invited into the same refining fire of God’s love.
That can feel intimidating. We may wonder if we’re worthy, or fear what it means to surrender more fully. But God’s love isn’t meant to destroy us. It purifies us, burning away whatever keeps us from becoming who He created us to be.
Signs of God’s Grace in Everyday Life
How do we know God’s love is at work in us? Fr. Dave encourages us to look for small, real changes:
- More patience with someone who challenges us
- A deeper sense of gratitude
- The strength to forgive
- Renewed hope in an uncertain season
However small, these moments are signs of grace.
Your Invitation This Week
God doesn’t wait for us to be perfect before inviting us closer. He welcomes us as we are and shapes us through His love.
This week, ask yourself: Where is God inviting me to draw closer, and how is His grace changing my heart?
Then pray: “Let me draw closer to You, Jesus. Please bring me closer to You.”
Watch the full reflection above, and join us at Mass this weekend. If this spoke to you, share it with someone who needs the reminder, and subscribe on YouTube for new Pastor’s Ponderings every week.
