One of those at table with Jesus said to him, “Blessed is the one who will dine in the Kingdom of God.” He replied to him, “A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many. When the time for the dinner came, he dispatched his servant to say to those invited, ‘Come, everything is now ready'” (Lk 14:15-17)
Today or if you are reading this evening, tomorrow, will be the final chance to vote. We seem to be cut right down the middle and unity and striving to form a more perfect union seems to getting further apart.
Judaism was far from unified during Jesus’ time as well. The Sadducees, Pharisees and scribes, Samaritans, Zealots, and Essenes all felt they were the authentic expression of Israel. Jesus not only addressed this division by sitting down to break bread with as diverse a population as possible but he also shared parables around the same idea of the invitation to share in the celebration of a feast, as we read today.
Each encounter that we are blessed to partake in is an invitation to experience communion. We have the opportunity to interact in person, face to face, or through the myriad of social media outlets. With each opportunity, we can choose to demean, degrade, dehumanize, gossip, and defame or we can embrace the opportunity to treat each other with dignity, respect, kindness, and understanding, yes, even when we disagree.
We all have wounds. Each of us have suffered or are suffering, and we have or are experiencing pain in some form or fashion. We all seek to belong, to be a part of, and to be accepted. We need each other. When we acknowledge this reality we can begin to heal and be more understanding toward others. Yet, as Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ, writes, “If you’re a stranger to your own wound, then you’re going to be tempted to despise the wounded.”
Jesus provides a mirror for us to notice our own suffering as well as a light to reveal the path to our own healing. Being willing to see our own wounds and to be open to healing, we can be more present. When others are not respectful, we can choose instead to be patient and understanding. When someone is shares harsh words, we can resist the defensive response and instead ask if there is any way we can help. Let us strive to be a conduit of love, to will each other’s good, and to be a healing presence in our interactions with one another. Everything is now ready. Jesus invites us to the feast of community and sharing, are we willing to attend?
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Photo: Rosary walk through Riverside Park, Vero Beach.
Spiritual Stepping Stones 