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On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully.
He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at the table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’ Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Then 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 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
This particular Gospel reminded me of a sacred time years ago; my 7-year-old niece Emily raised a question that was louder than her words. We were kneeling next to each other at Sunday morning Mass. The congregation was praying: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”
With the faith of a child, Emily interrupted her Mom’s prayer anxiously pleading, “Mom, what’s the word??” Jesus was the One who needed to “only say the word,” but Emily apparently got lost in the translation and started to panic. She planned on Jesus coming under her roof. If she could just say the right word, she would have a place at the table!
I was stunned, awakened, humbled! My heart went out to Emily and I began to ask questions of myself. Had I ever been that eager to receive the Eucharist? How often had those words been on my tongue, yet not on my mind or in my heart? Were there days I walked into the banquet hall and failed to really show up, to be present?
The good news for me that morning came from the mouth of God: Emily’s misinterpretation was a gift to me! Jesus relished having the blind, the crippled, the lame and the hungry at the feast … I was one of them and worthy to come to the table.
The parable of this wedding feast affirms what God tells us repeatedly in the Scriptures; all of us, without exception, are called to dinner. God values each of us regardless of age, wealth, health or gender. God’s kingdom is open to all, regardless of social standing or perceived worthiness.
God’s grace and mercy are given without hesitation to the alienated, those treated as inferior and “the other” not only ignored but abhorred on the highways and byways. Not one Illegal immigrant will be barred from the kingdom.
Little Emily also gleefully shouted “happy, happy” when all was right in her world. Wouldn’t it be great if those words echoed more in our world today? Let’s trust that if we ask deeper questions of ourselves and one another more will be right in the kingdom of now and not yet.
“For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Happy! Happy!
Action
Let’s ask ourselves these questions today and perhaps this week.
Are our values and actions — yours and mine — in sync with those that Jesus clearly states in this Gospel?
What opportunities might you and I have to speak and act for the poor, persons with disabilities, the immigrant, the child who is seldom happy?
Could you offer transportation to Sunday Mass for someone who would love to be at the table and not able to get there on their own? Or could you be a Eucharistic Minister to the homebound or those in healthcare facilities?
Sister Mary Mundy is the fourth generation of the Mundy family who is a Sister of Providence. When first generation, Theresa, professed vows in 1875, three of our founding Sisters were still alive. It's no wonder that Sister Mary, who entered the congregation in 1964, has a great love for this congregation. She presently ministers as a Pastoral Associate at Holy Rosary Parish in Evansville, Indiana, and enjoys involvement with associates in the local Providence Associates Circle.
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“What’s the word?” Terrific question from Emily. Sure had me thinking!
Love this.