Tuesday – 31st Week of Ordinary Time B

Published on 4 November 2024 at 13:03

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we are presented with profound insights into the heart of God and the human condition, as reflected in today’s readings. Both passages speak to our relationship with Jesus—the one who humbled himself for our sake and invites us to partake in the abundant feast of his love. Yet, they also reveal the sorrow that fills his heart when we reject that invitation and choose the distractions of this world over his teachings.

In our first reading from Saint Paul’s letter to the Philippians (2:5-11), the apostle urges us to have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. We are reminded that Jesus, despite being God from God, Light from Light and one in being with the Father, chose to empty himself, becoming human, and humbling himself to the point of death on a cross. He’s our ultimate example of humility and obedience. However, how often do we mirror this humility in our own lives? Or do we allow pride and self-importance to take precedence?

We live in a time where excuses come easily and procrastination often rules our hearts. The parable from the Gospel of Saint Luke tells the story of a great dinner—the invitation from our Lord to join him in fellowship and eternal life. The invited guests, however, one by one, offer their excuses. “I have purchased a field,” “I have bought oxen,” “I have just married.” Each excuse reflects a worldly concern, a prioritization of temporal matters over the eternal banquet that God has prepared for us.

Isn’t it striking how we often do the same? Jesus extends his invitation to us daily through scripture, prayer, and the sacraments, yet we find ourselves caught up in daily distractions—our work, our commitments, our relationships—often believing we will respond “tomorrow” or “when the time is right.” We claim to want a relationship with Him but allow our busyness, our preoccupations, and our fears to keep us from entering into that relationship fully.

Imagine the sorrow of Jesus as he witnesses our hesitations. Each time we turn down his invitation, he feels that rejection deeply. For Jesus, each soul is precious, and when we choose the path of distraction over devotion, it creates a rift in the relationship he longs to have with us. It is a tragedy of a divine nature that the Holy One, who approached us in humility and love, is so frequently met with indifference or outright rejection.

The good news is that even in our procrastination and excuses, God's mercy knows no bounds. The master in the parable commands that others come in—those who were previously considered unworthy, marginalized, and excluded. This illustrates the depth of God's love and the expansive nature of his Kingdom. No one is beyond the reach of his grace, and there is always room for more at the Father’s table.

But we must be willing to respond. We are called not just to accept the invitation, but to embody the humility that Christ exemplified. When we truly align our thoughts and actions with the humility of Jesus, we begin to see the world not through our own limited perspective, but through the lens of love, service, and gratitude. We stop making excuses and start living in joyful obedience.

As we reflect on today’s readings, let us ask ourselves: What excuses are we making? What is keeping us from the banquet that Jesus has prepared? Let us strive to clear the distractions and humbly seek a deeper relationship with Christ. Let us remember that he emptied himself for us giving us the strength and wisdom to empty ourselves of worldly concerns, that we might embrace the call to love, serve, and testify to the goodness of our God and, as he promised—have life in its fullness. Mary, Holy Queen and Mother, pray for us who have recourse to thee.


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