Rash promises and false pretense

The passages in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today offer a view of how commitment to follow the Way to the Kingdom requires serious action. In the Book of Judges we are given pause by Jephthah’s vow and its consequences. Friar Jude Winkler notes that we will need to decide that God is first in our lives even if that appears to put loved ones at a lower priority. Scripture scholar, Miles Van Pelt presents arguments for an interpretation of this event in Judges which are more in accord with references to the event in the Christian Testament and some rabbinic interpretation cited by the Jewish Encyclopedia. The Gospel from Matthew tells a parable where a wedding feast offered by a king is compared to the Kingdom of God. Our participation in this Kingdom requires a choice, in the words of Friar Jude, for us to dress the part. Laura Kauzlarich-Mizaur reflects on the major roadblocks identified in the Gospel to participating in the joyous celebration of the Kingdom of God. The selfie focus which puts our pride, ego and independence at the centre of our life experiences may lead to rash promises and false pretense as witness we show to others.