Philippians 2:5- 11,
Ps 22:26b-27.28.29-3tl.3,
Luke 14:15-24 Full Readings
Saint Martin de PorresResponding to God's Invitation
Today we read Luke's version of the king who invited the guests for a wedding feast and the invited guests would not turn up which made him collect anybody in the city, for the feast had to take place. Today we are also invited to that feast. The king represents God and the invited guests are we his people. God is always inviting us, not forcing us to commune with him. Are you ready to commune with him or you are going to give excuses? Let us be humble and respond to his invitation.
Humility is the mother of all virtues. This virtue helps us to realize our nothingness before God and our total dependence on him. We should practice this virtue of humility in the small and great events of life after the example of Jesus Christ as we see in the first Reading. God exalts the humble but humbles the eyes that are proud. God exalted Jesus and “gave him the name that is above all other names [phil 2:9ff]. If those who were invited to the banquet are not humble and ready enough to respond to God’s call, he sends out messengers to those who were not originally invited. God does not force anybody to partake in his banquet. May he give us the grace to respond to his call always.
We are invited not to bring excuses in responding to God's call. Sadly, we often find ourselves too busy to bother with God’s invitation to communion with him: “But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves.” They had good things to do, but good things can often get in the way of the best options. We might be too busy with work, projects, or even family to find time for God. Our Lord calls these “excuses,” because there should be no real conflict between our duties and God. Lived well, all our responsibilities should lead us to God, not away from him. The key is to put God above all things. We are called to put him first in setting aside some time daily for prayer, to put God first in living out our responsibilities to work, family, and community. We put God first when we remember to rely upon his grace in our lives. By doing so, we live in communion with God in this life and, with his grace, we will live with him for all eternity.
Brethren, excuses hold us back from pursuing the things of God and communing with Him. Jesus probes the reasons why people make excuses to God's great invitation to "eat bread" with him at his banquet table. The first excuse allows the claims of one's personal business (buying land)or work to take precedence over God's claim. Do you allow any task or endeavor to absorb you so much that it keeps you from the thought of God? The second excuse is allowing our possessions to come first before God. Do you allow the media and other diversions to crowd out time for God in daily prayer and worship? The third excuse puts home and family ahead of God. God never meant for our home and relationships to be used selfishly. We serve God best when we invite him into our work, our homes, and our personal lives and when we share our possessions with others. Which excuse do you have that is stopping you from responding to God's Invitation. Pray over it today and overcome it so that the invitation will be given to other people.
Let us Pray
Lord Jesus, you withhold no good thing from us and you lavish us with the treasures of heaven. Help me to seek your kingdom first and to lay aside anything that might hinder me from doing your will. Amen
Be blessed
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