Readings: Judges 11:29-39, Ps. 40:5,7-10, Matthew 22:1-14
“And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord, and said, ‘If thou wilt give the Ammonites into my hand, then whoever comes forth from the doors of my house to meet me, when I return victorious from the Ammonites, shall be the Lord’s, and I will offer him up for a burnt offering.’” (Judges 11:30-31)
What lessons do we learn from Jephthah’s actions? If Jephthah had not made a vow, God would still have granted the desired victory. God hears our prayers and grants our requests even when we do not make a vow. He is a loving Father who cares deeply about His children and is ever ready to meet their needs. However, when we make a vow to God, we must keep it.
Failure to fulfil our vows amounts to disrespect for God, and it often attracts His wrath. This is why we must never rush into making vows. Do not be carried away with emotions when making your vows, and be ready to stick to them afterwards. For instance, on the day of your marriage, you made a vow to God to be faithful to your spouse till the day you die. Adultery goes beyond “cheating on your spouse”; it is a sin against God before whom you stood to vow on the day of your wedding.
Also, as a priest or a professed religious, you made vows on the day of your ordination or consecration. Are you still faithful? The book of Judges tells us that Jephthah “did with her according to the vow he had made with God.” Jephthah offered his only daughter to God. He did not burn her to death; instead, he made her a “burnt offering to God” - she became God’s property. Just like Hannah gave Samuel to God, Jephthah gave his daughter to God. As a priest or religious, you have given yourself to God like Jephthah’s daughter. You disrespect God by acts of unfaithfulness.
In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus gave a parable of a wedding feast to which the guests failed to show up, forcing the King to send out servants to bring in as many people as possible to the wedding. Those who were initially invited promised to attend but failed to keep their promises; some went as far as killing the servants who were sent to remind them of their initial promises. We behave like these guests when we are not faithful to our vows. Worse still, we even get annoyed when God sends prophets to remind us of our vows.
Herod, for instance, arrested and eventually killed John the Baptist for condemning his adulterous union with his brother’s wife. Jesus tells us that “the king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.” Let us not make light of our vows. Let us not attract the anger of God upon ourselves through acts of unfaithfulness.
During the marriage feast, the King discovered there was one who came into the feast without a wedding garment. Not only was this man bound hand and foot, but he was also cast into the outer darkness, a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth. Just as no one forced Jephthah to make a vow, no one forced this man into the marriage feast. He came on his own. He was supposed to do just one thing: put on a wedding garment like all the others who were invited freely. But in the end, he got what he deserved.
St. Pius X, originally named Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, was born on 2 June 1835 in Venice. He rose to become the 259th Pope and was declared a saint on 29 May 1954. Pope Pius X is renowned for implementing liturgical changes and promoting the practice of receiving communion frequently, even from childhood. He strongly opposed Modernism—a movement he deemed heretical—fostered the study of the Bible, and played a key role in organising Canon Law.
Throughout his papacy, he was deeply dedicated to renewing the Church in the spirit of Christ, showcasing his profound holiness. His humility is best reflected in his final wish: “I was born poor, I have lived in poverty, and I wish to die poor.”
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, grant that we may be faithful to our vows to the end. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (Saint Pius X, Pope. Liturgical Colour: White. Bible Study: Judges 11:29-39, Ps. 40:5,7-10, Matthew 22:1-14)
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu