Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint 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.”
The Guests
1. To the host who invited him. There are times when we look for a retribution from God, something like “I give you this so that you give me that”… like a favor that is repaid with another favor. But here Jesus breaks the pre-established patterns. He shows a different perspective: He teaches us the concept that we must do things without expecting to be paid or to receive favors in return. Do things from your heart and forget about it, even in relation with God himself. Because there are times when we say, “I’m going to mass because God has granted me what I asked for”. The attitude should be different: “I go to Mass to meet Him”.
2. Relatives. Many times, it hurts when we are invited out of interest or for mere compliance. Jesus invites you to have a different approach to life. Get a move on and stop complaining because your siblings do not help you to take care of your elderly parents and have left you alone with them. That’s it! Enjoy the time you spend with them because they are still with you! It’s your siblings loss; they are missing out on enjoying them. Live better, without checking if people return your favors or not. Put your heart into life and live!
3. Your reward. Jesus invites you to never forget the supernatural perspective. You must remember that there is eternity, and that God will always reward you for everything you have done on earth. You and I are people of faith, and we know that God is always with us. Don’t give up! Sooner or later God will reward you. Heaven is a reality, and do you know what? I want to go to Heaven, and I’ll take my chances, regardless of the blows I may receive in this life and the things that hurt me like they do you. So, come along with me, with faith, because I’m certain that when we get to Heaven there will be a feast. Jesus has promised so.
Remember that something good is on the way! God bless you, be with you and protect you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
