Homily For Tuesday Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 7th November 2023

Readings: Rom. 12:5-16; Ps.131; Luke 14:15-24

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

WHAT EXCUSES ARE YOU GOING TO GIVE GOD FOR NOT HONOURING HIS INVITATION TO HEAVEN?

 

Invitations to events and social gatherings are part of humanity's social ways of life. As usual, Jesus often uses the things we are very familiar with to teach us a very important lesson. Just yesterday he told us to cultivate the habit of inviting the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind to our banquets for they can not repay us.

 

On the occasion of our Gospel passage today Jesus tells the parable of the great banquet, how a man planned a large banquet and sent out invitations, but those invited gave excuses and turned the invitation down. So he opened the invitation to all who cares to come the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind. Jesus ends the parable by saying that “not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet”

 

Here, the master respected their excuses for not coming to the banquet even though they were not realistic. Because no one buys land without seeing it first, and the same can be said for buying oxen. And what, exactly, would keep a newly married couple from attending a social event? All the excuses in the parable show insincerity on the part of those invited. Hence the invitation is opened up to society’s maimed and downtrodden.

 

The fact is that, those who ignored the invitation to the banquet chose their own punishment, they missed out and the master respected their choice by making it permanent: they would not “taste of my banquet”, he said. So it will be with God’s judgment on those who choose to reject Christ or are so busy to respond to his invitation, they will have their choice confirmed, and they will never taste the joys of heaven. Therefore, let us learn to honour the invitation of God in humility.

 

Dear friends, the kingdom of God is opened for us today, let us not be too proud or busy to embrace it for the blessings of the kingdom are available to all who will come to Christ by faith. Let us learn to be humble and charitable with the gift God has given us. And we must not let the things of this world distract us from responding to God’s call and mission. Little wonder St. Paul said in our first reading: All of us, in union with Christ, form one body, and as parts of it we belong to each other. Our gifts differ according to the grace given to us. Do not let your love be a pretence, but sincerely prefer good to evil.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are too busy with the things of this passing world, as we hear about the invitation to your Heavenly Kingdom today, may we embrace it with all humility. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.