“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” (Lk 14:13-14).
At the end of this parable, Jesus is expressing a deeper definition of love that we in our culture may not be accustomed. When we hear someone talking about love, most likely we think of an emotion, a feeling, sentiment, or a state of mind. As I have written often, I follow St Thomas Aquinas in his definition of love as the willing the good of other as other. This definition of love is unconditional. There are no restrictions placed on another for a return of the good given. In fact, as we read Jesus’ words, no return is to be expected.
This is what Jesus means by inviting the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. These are people of his time who had nothing to give to someone who has the means of offering a banquet. They could even come, because of their ostracized status without the proper etiquette to even express the most minimal of thank you for the invitation and the meal, and instead to complain about the food, the decor, and even be insulting to the host. Yet, they would be served with humility and grace anyway, because the point is to give without expectation of reciprocity.
Some may say this is impossible, that nobody gives without expecting something in return. Everybody’s got an angle, even if we do something for a compliment. Jesus would probably agree with this claim, for on our own we may not conceive of giving without looking to get something back in return, let alone make such an offer. Jesus has countered this claim in a different context, but it applies here just as well: “For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible” (Mt 19:26).
To be able to love then, to will the good of the other without condition, we need to first be willing to receive the love of God that he offers. We are only capable of love because first and foremost, we have been loved ourselves. If we spend no time with God, no time in his word, prayer, worship, acts of service, or most importantly his silence, we set ourselves apart from the love of God, and separate ourselves from him, the very source of our being. Our very existence, in fact, the reality of all creation, is the result of the outpouring of the love of God.
To receive the love of God, it helps when we respond to the invitation of the Holy Spirit to pray each day. Our very desire to pray, seeking the existence of God, the urge to move out from our self to reach out to the need of another, is the first response we might experience to his invitation even if we may not even be fully be aware. Another important movement to make time for prayer is to resist the many distractions, diversions, and temptations that keep us from praying and make time for God and God alone.
Humility is a key virtue that helps us to resist seeing ourselves as first and foremost. God is God and we are his children. As we enter into relationship with him and receive his love, it is important to resist keeping his love for ourselves. Yes, share with those closest to us, but also with those who will not give back. We need not fear that there will be a finite end to our giving, for with God there is an inexhaustible supply and a joy for its own sake which comes up from within our soul from our loving Father who is the source.
Having received God’s caritas, charity, we are to give until it hurts, as St. Mother Teresa taught. Jesus is not teaching us to build up fame and fortune here in this life, but to build up treasure in heaven where we will receive our eternal reward. If we don’t follow through on the movement of love dwelling up and share, if we only seek a return or equal exchange for the love given, we will often be let down and disillusioned. When the Holy Spirit nudges us to reach out in concrete situations, we are to follow without hesitation and seek nothing in return.
Photo: Divine Jesus Prayer Canvas from ArtisianCanvasPrint
Spiritual Stepping Stones 