Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 14, 15-24
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.'”
The feast of life
1. Organizing the feast. God is the one who prepares the celebration. He brings you into this world to help prepare your own life and the lives of others. Just as a party needs more than one guest, God calls you today to build community—to share, to connect, and to open yourself to those around you so that life becomes more joyful. Living in isolation makes it hard to experience life as a celebration. Even Jesus formed a community. Don’t separate yourself from others. Resist the temptation to withdraw and instead, share your life with others, knowing we are not meant to live alone. Seek out those who add meaning to your life, those who support, care for, and love you.
2. The guests. These are people who feel they are close to the host—close to God. Perhaps they are well-read or deeply religious. Yet sometimes, they lose sight of the joy that comes from sharing life with others—treating the feast as only an idea rather than an experience. Life isn’t just something to theorize about; it’s full of surprises, and every day brings something new to discover.
3. The uninvited. Some people feel left out, but not because God excludes them—they exclude themselves. Many are unaware of God’s mercy or the sense of being personally invited by Him. When you truly encounter God, it changes your perspective: you begin to love life, live it fully, embrace it, and enjoy it, rather than turning everything into theory. God doesn’t see Christians as first or second class; His love transforms everyone, and all are welcome. So go ahead—celebrate life! Share it with God and with others!
Never forget that something good is on the way! God bless you and be with you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
