Gospel: Luke 14:15-24
Upon hearing these words, one of those at the table said to Jesus, “Happy are those who eat at the banquet in the kingdom of God!”
Jesus replied, “A man once gave a feast and invited many guests. When it was time for the feast, he sent his servant to tell those he had invited to come, for every-thing was ready.
But all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘Please excuse me. I must go and see the piece of land I have just bought.’
Another said: ‘I am sorry, but I am on my way to try out the five yoke of oxen I have just bought.’
Still another said, ‘How can I come, when I’ve just got married?’ The servant returned alone, and reported this to his master. Upon hearing his account, the master of the house flew into a
rage, and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly, into the streets and alleys of the town, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ The servant reported after a while, ‘Sir, your orders
have been carried out, but there is still room.’
The master said, ‘Go out to the highways and country lanes, and force people to come in, to ensure that my house is full. I tell you, none of those invited will have a morsel of my feast.”
Reflection
God reaches out to His beloved people.
One time, in the missions, we went to a celebration, and the homeowner asked her grandchild to call their neighbors who were not yet present for her birthday. When those neighbors arrived, she warmly welcomed them to have their lunch. Such a scenario is common in rural villages in the Philippines. The same image is portrayed by Luke in our Gospel today. Luke’s Gospel, known
for its inclusive message of salvation offered to all, reveals God’s image as someone who reaches out to His beloved people. It shows us a God who not only welcomes but also reaches out and
prepares a seat for everyone at His banquet, leaving it to us to choose if we want to partake. A corresponding message is conveyed to us in the first reading. Jesus emptied Himself and became
human like us, except in sin. He reached out to us in our humanity to show us the love of the Father and to bring us into the banquet God has prepared for us.
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