7 November, 2023 | Tuesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

 Gospel Lk 14:15-24

Get to know someone who was ever ready for God's work....

One of those at table with Jesus said to him,

"Blessed is the one who will dine in the Kingdom of God."

He replied to him,

"A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many.

When the time for the dinner came,

he dispatched his servant to say to those invited,

'Come, everything is now ready.'

But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves.

The first said to him,

'I have purchased a field and must go to examine it;

I ask you, consider me excused.'

And another said, 'I have purchased five yoke of oxen

and am on my way to evaluate them;

I ask you, consider me excused.'

And another said, 'I have just married a woman,

and therefore I cannot come.'

The servant went and reported this to his master.

Then the master of the house in a rage commanded his servant,

'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town

and bring in here the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame.'

The servant reported, 'Sir, your orders have been carried out

and still there is room.'

The master then ordered the servant,

'Go out to the highways and hedgerows

and make people come in that my home may be filled.

For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.'"

Reflections:

The lesson from this parable is clear. God invites us to partake in His kingdom and enjoy the blessings of His grace. However, our worldly attachments and excuses can often prevent us from responding to this invitation. We become preoccupied with our possessions, our careers, and our personal affairs, and as a result, we miss out on the abundant blessings of God's kingdom. As we reflect on this passage, we are challenged to examine our own lives and consider how we respond to God's invitation. Are we too distracted by the cares and concerns of this world to fully embrace God's kingdom? Let us accept God's invitation with an open heart, just as we are, without pretence or reservation.

Activity: 

Practice hospitality in your daily life by welcoming neighbours, coworkers, or poor friends to your house and make them feel valued and included.