Tuesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Lk 14: 15-24
November 7, 2023 | Tuesday
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 everything 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 highway sand 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.”
Today’s Reflection:
Part of the reform that the Church did to itself after Vatican II is to change the mindset from “exclusivism” to “inclusivism.” The kind of relationship we have with God somehow dictates our idea and dealings with Him and How we conduct ourselves in front of that God. Seeing God as a commander, our conscientious following of His commands may make us think of ourselves as favored leading to a tendency to look down on others who do not do so as we did. But God does not operate with this kind of justice. His unfathomable love for all of us goes beyond the periphery of our own human limitations. Therefore, rather than keeping busy with categorizing others, let us ask ourselves, Are we counted in? Let today’s gospel remind us to share our kindness and love with everyone around us without discrimination. / Vulnerasti, 2023
