All Are Welcome

 

Lk 14:15-24

 

 The Parable of the Great Banquet

¹⁵ When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

¹⁶ Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. ¹⁷ At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

¹⁸ “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’

¹⁹ “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’

²⁰ “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

²¹ “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’

²² “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

²³ “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. ²⁴ I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”

 

So great is his love and  desire to fill the banquet hall with guests, that the master told his servants to invite, even compel, anyone they saw to the feast he had prepared. Others had refused for petty reasons and missed a golden opportunity.  Often in our own prayer and reflections we hear a call to "do more" but we find excuses to dodge the call, just as the folks in the parable. During this month of November when we give special attention through prayer and sacrifice for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, may we find a willingness and generosity of heart to accept whatever invitation the Master might make of us  and do willingly whatever he asks of us.

 

Bro. Rene

Dear God, your love knows no bounds and is constantly inviting us to partake of it through the big and little invitations you send us each day. Help us to say a willing YES, especially for the sake of the Holy Souls.