Reflections on Scripture | Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop

Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

Gospel
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."

 

Reflection
There's a comparison here between something that we all know and have experienced, people taking care of each other, doing nice things for each other, and always receiving nice things back. And we feel that that's a really good thing, and it is not necessarily a bad thing, but what about those people who are the outcasts, those that we don't really naturally drawn to?

What's our responsibility there? Should we be offering things to them? The Kingdom of God is made up of not just a a meal image, but a banquet image. Everyone is welcome. Everyone is fed. Everyone is given something that of value without the person who gives doing it only because of what they get, but doing it because it's the right thing to do.

Closing Prayer
Father, we all have people in our lives that are easy to be with. And there are those in our life that are difficult. And we have to be very generous with those people, especially if we're going to be living out the kingdom of God. To care not just for those who care for us, but to care for those who need care. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Kyle Cross