Luke 14:12-14

Romans 11:29-36

Psalm 69:30-31, 33-34, 36

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 neighbors,

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.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, teach me the way of humility that leads to the heavenly banquet.

Teach me the way of service and generosity that leads to union with you.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Invite the Poor to your Banquets: Throughout the Gospel of Luke, Jesus has warned the Pharisees about their hypocrisy (Luke 11:37-44; 12:1). Exteriorly, they presented themselves as righteous and meticulous in their fulfillment of some of God’s law, but interiorly, they neglected the heart of the law – the love and righteousness of God. Many of the Pharisees did things only to be seen, honored, and thought well of by others. In the passage leading up to today’s Gospel, Jesus has just taught the guests at the dinner not to seek the places of honor (Luke 14:7-11). The path to true exaltation is found in and through humility, not pride. In today’s gospel passage, Jesus turns his attention to the host of the dinner. He tells the host that he has been inviting his friends, relatives, and wealthy neighbors to his home in the hopes of being invited back to theirs. Jesus points out that this is a wrong-headed approach. Instead, the Pharisee should invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind to his banquets since they cannot return the favor. “God will repay those whom the poor cannot. Those who invite the poor into their banquets on earth – and by extension, help the poor in any way – will be admitted to the banquet in the kingdom of God” (Martin, Bringing the Gospel of Luke to Life, 401). Instead of seeking earthly honors and repayment, we should seek heavenly exaltation and repayment.

2. Human Disobedience Overcome by Divine Mercy: In his Letter to the Romans, Paul reaches the culmination of his thoughts on the Israelites who have rejected Jesus as the Messiah. Paul announces that “the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29). God will never back out on Israel or withdraw the blessings – such as the covenants, divine adoption, the patriarchs, and the law – bestowed on them. In the next couple of verses (Romans 11:30-32), Paul summarizes his entire letter. Paul addresses the Roman Gentiles who have embraced the Gospel even as some Israelites are rejecting it: “Just as you once disobeyed God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience” (Romans 11:30). Paul continues saying that the Israelites “have now disobeyed in order that, by virtue of the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy” (Romans 11:31). This is a mysterious reversal in the history of humanity. The Gentiles, who once rejected the Lord, are now embracing him and have received the gift of divine mercy. The Israelites, who had received God’s gifts and covenant and call to evangelize the nations, are now rejecting Jesus as the Messiah, but will somehow “receive mercy.” The same dynamic is at play: the disobedient Gentiles received mercy, and the disobedient Israelites will also be given mercy. “The story of the world’s salvation is a story of human disobedience overcome by divine mercy” (Hahn and Mitch, Romans, 207). Isn't the same dynamic present in my life: when have I been disobedient, but received mercy?

3. From Him, and Through Him, and For Him: Paul relishes in “the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God” (Romans 11:33). God chose Israel to evangelize the nations of the world. And yet, as the nations of the world embrace Jesus Christ as the risen Son of God, this will bring about the merciful salvation of Israel. Who can truly know the mind of the Lord? This was the experience of Job in the Old Testament. Job and his three friends were confounded by the mystery of innocent suffering: Why do the righteous suffer and the wicked seemingly prosper? God eventually responded to Job’s questions, asking Job if he knew everything about creation, and if he could control the forces of evil. Job could only respond with humility that these were mysteries beyond his comprehension. As Paul contemplates the mystery of salvation history, he alludes to the mystery that everything comes from God, is mediated through God, and is ordered to God. God is thus glorified as the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Consummator of all things. We are but humble participants in the unfolding of the history of salvation.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you are meek and humble of heart. I am called to learn from you and be united with you. You sought to please your heavenly Father in all things. May I do the same and be content to dwell in the Father’s house.

Living the Word of God: What are my deep motivations when I do something good for others? Am I looking for praise, or thanks, or a return on my investment? How can I more clearly see Christ in others, especially the poor, and serve Christ better?