A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 14:15-24
15 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,
16 “A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many.
17 When the time for the dinner came, he dispatched his servant to say to those invited, ‘Come, everything is now ready.’
18 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.’
19 And another said, ‘I have purchased five yoke of oxen and am on my way to evaluate them; I ask you, consider me excused.’
20 And another said, ‘I have just married a woman, and therefore I cannot come.’
21 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.’
22 The servant reported, ‘Sir, your orders have been carried out and still there is room.’
23 The master then ordered the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedgerows and make people come in that my home may be filled.
24 For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.’”
Reflection / Homily / Sermon: Luke 14:15-24
If you are invited by an important person, say an influential politician or a big businessman, to a banquet, most probably you would be filled with gratitude and you will grab the opportunity to see and be seen. Yet in the parable above, Jesus points out how many people, a great number of them, are missing the opportunity “to see and be seen” in the Kingdom of God.
The Kingdom of God is indeed like a wedding banquet. It is a “union” or rather reunion of God and His people. In this Kingdom, there is abundant food of joy, plentiful dishes of peace, and overflowing wine of love. Everyone is invited regardless of social status and background for it is an inclusive kingdom.
Yet sadly, so many people reject or ignore the invitation. These people have many excuses, mostly concerning worldly matters such as business, work, and social affairs. Matters of spirituality is nothing or just secondary to them. They don’t realize that life on earth is temporary compared to the eternal life in God’s Kingdom.
God is knocking at the door of our hearts, inviting us to be opened to Him and accept His invitation to walk the path towards His Kingdom. May we accept the invitation with gratitude and with a sense of urgency.
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Jesus tells the parable of a man who hosts a great banquet and invites many guests. Yet, when the time comes, those invited offer excuses and decline to attend. One says he has bought a field and must go see it, another has purchased oxen and needs to try them out, and still another has just married. In response, the host orders his servants to invite the poor, crippled, blind, and lame from the streets. When there is still room, he sends the servants out again, telling them to compel others to come, so that his house may be full.
This parable illustrates the inclusive and expansive nature of God’s kingdom. The invitation to God’s banquet is open to all, but it requires a response. Too often, like those in the parable, we find ourselves distracted by the demands and pleasures of life. We let our careers, material possessions, or personal circumstances take precedence over our relationship with God. Yet, these excuses leave us spiritually empty. God’s invitation is not something to be brushed aside. It is an opportunity to participate in the fullness of His grace and love, something far more precious than the temporary concerns we prioritize.
The image of the host welcoming the poor and marginalized reveals God’s heart for those who are often overlooked or undervalued. It is a reminder that God’s love transcends social status, background, and even our shortcomings. No one is too broken, too distant, or too insignificant to receive His grace.
For those who have accepted the invitation, there is also a challenge. Just as the servants went out to bring more guests in, we, too, are called to extend God’s invitation to others. We must not keep the joy and grace of God’s kingdom to ourselves, but instead, reach out to those who may feel unworthy or forgotten.
In this parable, Jesus shows that God’s love is abundant, and His invitation to salvation is open to all. But we must be willing to accept that invitation with open hearts and be ready to share it with others. Let us not make excuses, but embrace the opportunity to join in the feast God has prepared for us.