MONDAY OF THE THIRTY-FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME-Gospel (Lk 14:12-14)- THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“When you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.” (Lk 14:13)

FIRST READING - Phil 2:1-4

A reading from the Letter to the Philippians

Brothers and sisters:

If there is any encouragement in Christ,

any solace in love,

any participation in the Spirit,

any compassion and mercy,

complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love,

united in heart, thinking one thing.

Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory;

rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves,

each looking out not for his own interests,

but also everyone for those of others.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Lk 14:12-14

From the Gospel according to Luke

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine

at the home of one of the leading Pharisees.

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 sisters

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."

MONDAY OF THE THIRTY-FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME-Gospel (Lk 14:12-14)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

The Word of God in today's Gospel tells of Jesus, who went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees. Through this, God wants to teach everyone that when serving others, we should serve with love with all our hearts, to forgive, and to give without calculation.

God loves everyone. He does not exclude anyone. He always wants the best for humans and does not wish for humanity to fall into Satan's trap. Therefore, He wants everyone to be alert at all times and in all places; do not let Satan deceive us into being greedy for money, position, and fame; because Satan himself once tempted Jesus of these three things.

God calls on all people today to listen to and put into practice the words of God: to love others as ourselves, love with all our heart, love is giving selflessly, without calculation as Jesus taught the Pharisees and the scribes in the past as well as everyone today that when we help someone, do not expect them to pay back, because when we help someone else unconditionally, selflessly, God will record our merit in His book and will give us the reward of the Kingdom of Heaven, when He calls us out of the world.

Therefore, when someone shares or helps others in any way, believe that God sees everything. God says: He is very pleased and will reward those who know how to live lovingly and altruistically; know to share and help others selflessly, and unconditionally; and know how to give without calculation, without expecting the other person to repay their kindness.

He also pointed out that when we want others to serve us selflessly, without calculation, we must first do the same for them.

Jesus' teaching to the past Pharisees and scribes as well as to everyone today that when we invite someone to a party or help someone, we should invite and help the poor and disabled, those who have nothing to repay. This is the good thing that God calls on us to live and do as He lived and called.

Thanks be to God. Amen.