Daily Word Of God
Luke 14:16-18a, 21-24
Jesus said to those gathered round the table, ‘There was a man who gave a great banquet, and he invited a large number of people. When the time for the banquet came, he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, “Come along: everything is ready now.” But all alike started to make excuses.
‘The servant returned and reported this to his master. Then the householder, in a rage, said to his servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.” “Sir,” said the servant, “your orders have been carried out and there is still room.”
Then the master said to his servant, “Go to the open roads and the hedgerows and press people to come in, to make sure my house is full; because, I tell you, not one of those who were invited shall have a taste of my banquet.” ’
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- In today’s Gospel, the invited guests – the Jews made lame excuses and did not show up at the banquet. They put their own interests above those of their host-God. They did not value the divine gift of God.
- Thus, God’s gift of eternal life and happiness, symbolized by the banquet, was offered to others – the gentiles represented by the “poor, crippled, blind, and lame.”
- Do we put God first in all that we do? Are we also drawn away by the material concerns and novelties of life that God has become of secondary importance to us e.g. we skip Sunday Mass for a concert or a dinner?