23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

"This fellow began to build and was not able to finish." (Lk 14: 33) What if that fellow happens to be me? What is the project of my life and, furthermore, what counts as success? So often in life the completion of any one project simply initiates another. Not only that, the futility of temporal things is all too apparent: "... for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain  the freedom of the glory of the children of God." (Rom 8: 20-21) It is those things that we cannot see that are of the greatest value and they depend not on our own efforts but on the grace of God. Let us, therefore, not set our happiness on those things that pass for success in the eyes of the world: "... for what is prized by human beings is an abomination in the sight of God." (Lk 16: 15) Our faith, hope and love need to be oriented to those things which find their fulfillment in the Kingdom of heaven: "So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what cannot be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal." (2 Cor 4: 16-18)

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

In the time of Christ banquets and feasts were frequently public events. That is why we hear of onlookers coming to hear the conversation between the guests. Not only that left over food would be given to the poor. The danger of public humiliation should you be asked to take a lower place would be real. Since we no longer live according to the same customs of the first century AD what is the message of the Gospel for us today? I think the key phrase is: "in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid." (Lk 14: 12). Such an attitude speaks of social climbing and ambition for status that shuts out God. To invite "the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind" (Lk 14: 13) is to anticipate the messianic banquet when such people will be restored. In the Gospel of Matthew it states that after the cleansing of the temple: "The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he cured them." (Mtt 21: 14) The repayment for a host who invites people who cannot repay is to occur at the "resurrection of the righteous." (Lk 14 14) In what way do my personal actions reflect my Christian hope? In what way does my conduct reflect my faith in God's promises? to whom do I offer friendship and hospitality and from what motives?