Accept the Invitation
Nov. 7: Tuesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
I don’t have much of an intro today, so in the spirit of the Eucharistic Revival, enjoy some silly memes, instead.
Reading 1
Rom 12:5-16ab
Brothers and sisters: We, though many, are one Body in Christ and individually parts of one another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them: if prophecy, in proportion to the faith; if ministry, in ministering; if one is a teacher, in teaching; if one exhorts, in exhortation; if one contributes, in generosity; if one is over others, with diligence; if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality. Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Have the same regard for one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly.
The “one body in Christ” passage gets quoted a lot, for good reason. Everyone should feel they have something to contribute to the Church and community. Paul lists several examples, which may or may not apply to any one person individually, but the overall point is clear.
But the second half is just as important—these virtues (love, zeal, hope, perseverance) do apply to everyone. These are things we can all do. Whatever our particular calling is, we can still apply the virtues.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 131:1bcde, 2, 3
R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
O LORD, my heart is not proud,
nor are my eyes haughty;
I busy not myself with great things,
nor with things too sublime for me.
R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
Nay rather, I have stilled and quieted
my soul like a weaned child.
Like a weaned child on its mother's lap,
so is my soul within me.
R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
O Israel, hope in the LORD,
both now and forever.
R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
This is a Psalm about trust. It’s not telling us we shouldn’t be looking towards exalted things; it’s just that we shouldn’t worry about them. Even if we don’t understand all of Jesus’ teachings, we can accept and trust them.
Alleluia
Mt 11:28
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Relax, like the baby in today’s Psalm.
Gospel
Lk 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.'"
Jesus totally calls out the Pharisee eating with Him. The Pharisee claims to believe that it’s a blessing to to dine in the Kingdom, but Jesus tells a parable of people rejecting exactly that dinner invitation.
Jesus is concerned for the poor and downtrodden, but he does invite everyone. The fact that there’s still room at the end of the story indicates one of two things (possibly both): not many people are accepting His invitation; He is so generous, He has ample room in His celebration.
The latter is definitely true; through our efforts at converting others (as well as our own hearts), we can prevent the former.