Invite Even The Unwanted
Introduction
In the first reading, Paul says that God has never revoked his choice of Israel. Everyone and all are called to be saved by God’s mercy. That Israel did not accept Christ led to salvation being offered to the Gentiles.
We are inclined to love and invite those who love and invite us. Is this genuine love according to God’s standards? True love is gratuitous and opens itself to the poor and to outcasts. This is beautiful to say but hard to do. What is our practice?
1 Reading: Romans 11:29-36
Brothers and sisters: The gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. Just as you once disobeyed God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now disobeyed in order that, by virtue of the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. For God delivered all to disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor? Or who has given him anything that he may be repaid? For from him and through him and for him are all things. To God be glory forever. Amen.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 69:30-31, 33-34, 36
R. (14c) Lord, in your great love, answer me.
But I am afflicted and in pain;
let your saving help, O God, protect me.
I will praise the name of God in song,
and I will glorify him with thanksgiving. R.
“See, you lowly ones, and be glad;
you who seek God, may your hearts revive!
For the LORD hears the poor,
and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.” R.
For God will save Zion
and rebuild the cities of Judah.
They shall dwell in the land and own it,
and the descendants of his servants shall inherit it,
and those who love his name shall inhabit it. R.
Alleluia: John 8:31b-32
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples,
and you will know the truth, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Luke 14:12-14
On a Sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees. He said to the host who invited him, “When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or sisters or your relatives or your wealthy neighbours, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Commentary
O felix culpa! “O happy fault!” Misfortune can be turned into good. It was through the disobedience of the Jews that the message of salvation went to the Gentiles. The Jews have persisted in their disobedience, even after mercy has been shown to the Gentiles. But mercy is also in store for the Jews. God had allowed the Gentiles at an earlier time to live in disobedience, and now the Jews in order that mercy might be showered upon all. Indeed, the ways of God are shrouded in mystery.
We are all aware of deathbed conversions, of a turning to the Lord only in the terminal phase of life. It is but another example of the mercy of God. For this we should praise God whose love reaches the just and the unjust.
In today’s Gospel Christ suggests that the dinner invitation should be extended, not to close relatives and friends, but to the unwanted—the crippled, the lame, and the blind. There is no indication as to whether the invitation will be appreciated or not. The fact is that these are the people with whom God is particularly concerned. His mercy reaches the most unwanted people of the earth.
Blessing
An impossible task? Something which only the naïve would try? Jesus has asked us today to care about the unlovable – or so we think – for no one is unlovable to God. Jesus cared and loved outcasts and sinners. Dare we follow him? May Almighty God give you wisdom and courage and bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!