Today’s Scripture Readings

One of the dinner guests, on hearing this, said to him, ‘Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, “Come; for everything is ready now.” But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, “I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my apologies.” Another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my apologies.” Another said, “I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come.” So the slave returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, “Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.” And the slave said, “Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.” Then the master said to the slave, “Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.”’

In Luke’s gospel, Jesus is often found at table. In today’s reading, he is a guest at a meal hosted by a leading Pharisee, with other Pharisees and experts in the law present. One of the guests voices a beatitude, ‘Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the Kingdom of God.’ Perhaps he imagines that the meal at which he is present, hosted by a leading Pharisee and in the company of other important Pharisees, is a foretaste of the banquet of the Kingdom of God. In reply, Jesus tells a parable that reveals the upside-down, inside-out Kingdom of God.

Jesus portrays a banquet that is very different from the exclusive evening to which they had been invited. The householder’s tenacity speaks of God’s determination to gather as many people as possible into the banquet of eternal life. Everyone is included, even the most unlikely in the eyes of the Pharisees. God remains a willing host when he comes up against guests whose priorities outweigh their willingness to attend the banquet.

Let us take a moment to consider our own response to God’s invitation. Does the busyness of our lives trump our prayer time? Do we find ourselves postponing communion with God to attend to our own priorities?

Loving God, may your grace help us to be as persistent in pursuing you as you are at pursuing us. We thank you for your determination to be in communion with each one of us. We love you. Amen.