Daily Gospel Reflection
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November 5, 2019
One of those at table with Jesus said to him, “Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!”
Then Jesus said to him, “Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for everything is ready now.’
“But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my regrets.’ Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my regrets.’ Another said, ‘I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come.’
“So the slave returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, ‘Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’
“And the slave said, ‘Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.’ Then the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.’”
I love a good party. Whenever I receive an invitation – much like the one sent in today’s gospel – I will usually find any reason to go. So naturally, what strikes me the most about this story are the invitees’ excuses not to attend.
At every moment Jesus invites us to his party; that is, at every moment, Jesus invites us to grow closer to him and become a better version of ourselves. But how often do we rely on our excuses instead of accepting his invitation? Examples that immediately come to mind for me include, “I’m too tired to go to Mass today,” or “I’m late for work, so I’ll skip reading my daily gospel reflection today.”
But I also think about the other, less obvious excuses that I make for not accepting Jesus’ invitation to live a holier life: “I’ll gossip about my coworker because I need to vent” or “I’ll snap at a loved one because I’ve had a long day at work” or “I’ll be dishonest with someone because it is easier than telling the truth.”
Today’s Gospel puts into perspective what I am missing out on when I choose excuses over living a life in conformity with Jesus. By not accepting his invitation, I am missing out on a chance to sit at the divine table with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, which is, without a doubt, the best invitation in town.
Prayer
There is a message for us, Lord, in your story of the one who gave a great dinner, invited many guests, but none of them came. Help us to know your call, and to respond in charity and kindness to those who need our assistance.
Saint of the Day
Elizabeth and Zechariah were the parents of John the Baptist. Elizabeth was the cousin of the Virgin Mary, and Zechariah was a priest in Jerusalem. As depicted in this stained glass window from the Basilica, an angel visited Zechariah in an incense-filled vision when he was in the temple. The angel told him that Elizabeth, who was well beyond child-bearing years, would have a son and they should name him John.
Zechariah doubted the news and the angel struck him mute. When their child was born, he was consulted as to what name their son should be given. When he wrote on a slate that the boy shall be called John, his speech was restored.
After the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel told Mary she would bear the Son of God, Mary traveled to be with Elizabeth as she prepared for motherhood. Upon hearing Mary's greeting, Elizabeth cried out:
"Most blessed are you among women, and blessed in the fruit of you womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."
— Lk 1:42-45
We celebrate this moment on the Feast of the Visitation, which is held on May 31 each year to mark the end of the month dedicated to Mary.
Elizabeth is the patron of pregnant women. Relics of both Elizabeth and Zechariah rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica, as does a piece of the house they lived in.
Saints Elizabeth and Zechariah, parents of John the Baptist who prepared the way of the Lord—pray for us!