This Sunday’s gospel is all about partying. I think Pope Francis should write an encyclical about how to party like a Catholic. This gospel is so good because Jesus talks about parties. We are called, not just in parties, but in life, to take the lowest seat so that we can be raised up. When you enter into a church, what is the lowest seat in the church? Some people might say, oh yeah, it’s where the priest sits. Or some people might say it’s in the last pew. Honestly, if we think about it, the lowest place in a church, it’s the confessional.

We are called to enter in frequently so that Jesus can raise us up, so that Jesus can say, I absolve you, be made new. Go to confession. Give everything back to the Lord, and He will raise you up. He will make you new. And as a priest, one of the greatest questions that we can be asked is, Father, can I go to confession? This is not someone who is a failure. This is someone who is striving to be a saint. Take the lowest seat. Go to confession. I’m going tomorrow. I’m gonna be made new. It’s gonna be awesome.