"DO NOT COMPLAIN,

THAT SHOWS DISCONTENT WITH THE WILL OF GOD

IN THE PRESENT MOMENT.  THAT IS ALSO PROOF OF IMPATIENCE."

                                                             - Saints Martin de Porres

  

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

 Philippians 2:5-11

Your attitude should be

The same as Jesus Christ had: Though he was in the form of God,

he did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped,

but emptied himself, taking on the nature of a servant, made in human likeness,

and, in his appearance, found, as a man, He humbled himself by being obedient,

 

to death, death on the cross. That is why God exalted him and gave him the name

which outshines all names, so that at the name of Jesus all knees should bend in heaven,

on earth and among the dead, and all tongues proclaim,

that Christ Jesus is the Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

Ps 22:26b-27, 28-30ab, 30e, 31-32  

 I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊

Luke 14:15-24

Upon hearing these words, one of those at the table said to Jesus,

"Happy are those who eat at the banquet in the kingdom of God!"

Jesus replied, "A man once gave a feast and invited many guests.

When it was time for the feast, he sent his servant to tell those he had invited to come,

for everything was ready. But all alike began to make excuses.

The first said, 'Please excuse me. I must go and see the piece of land I have just bought.

Another said: 'I am sorry, but I am on my way to try out the five yoke of oxen I have just bought.'

 

Still another said, 'How can I come, when I've just got married?'

The servant returned alone, and reported this to his master. Upon hearing his account,

the master of the house flew into a rage, and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly,

into the streets and alleys of the town, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.'

The servant reported after a while, 'Sir, your orders have been carried out, but there is still room.'

The master said, 'Go out to the highways and country lanes, and force people to come in,

to ensure that my house is full. I tell you, none of those invited will have a morsel of my feast."

 

Gospel Reflection ：

God reaches out to His beloved people.

One time, in the missions, we went to a celebration, and the homeowner asked her grandchild

to call their neighbors who were not yet present for her birthday. When those neighbors arrived,

she warmly welcomed them to have their lunch. Such a scenario is common in rural villages in the Philippines.

The same image is portrayed by Luke in our Gospel today. Luke's Gospel,

 

known for its inclusive message of salvation offered to all, reveals God's image as someone

who reaches out to His beloved people. It shows us a God who not only welcomes but also reaches out

and prepares a seat for everyone at His banquet, leaving it to us to choose if we want to partake.

A corresponding message is conveyed to us in the first reading. Jesus emptied Himself and became human like us,

except in sin. He reached out to us in our humanity to show us the love of the Father

and to bring us into the banquet God has prepared for us.