In the gospel today, Jesus explains about a man who gave a great dinner and he invited many good people to come to the dinner but they were all too busy to come. The Lord gave us three examples, two men who wanted to conduct their business affairs and asked to be excused, and another man who just got married and said that he preferred to be with his new wife! Business and pleasure came before the great feast that had been prepared for them. We sure haven’t changed very much over the course of 2,000 years have we? The parables are timeless because the Lord Jesus knows our human nature only too well.
Modern society thrives on money and pleasure. People spend their lifetimes seeking these things and do manage to enjoy them for a brief period of time. All good things eventually come to an end though, and we can’t take the money and the fun into eternal life. We can take the Lord’s company and the company of our family and friends into eternal life though. Our relationships with the Lord and our family, friends and church community will last forever. The real gold lies in these relationships.
The master of the house who gave the great dinner very likely represents God. God wants to bless our lives and fill it with joy, but we are too busy to listen to Him. Our jobs can become more important to us than prayer. We don’t have time to develop a relationship with God because many of us work hard and are tired after work and just want to eat dinner and rest, and before you know it, the day is over and we never even prayed. We have to work to live, but sometimes it seems that we are all working too hard for things that we don’t really need.
It’s a shame that we can’t learn to live simpler, in order to simply live. If that makes sense. Our grandparents did not need the latest gadgets on the market and they didn’t take as many prescription drugs as we do, and yet they lived good lives and were not nearly as stressed out all the time as many modern people are. We can’t think straight half the time, because of the noise and stress and pressures on the job, and with the family, let alone hear God’s voice when He speaks to us. This is what the gospel is talking about today. All the people God invited, missed out on the big party because they were “too busy”.
However, the first reading for mass today shows us what life could be like. It’s beautiful. The way Saint Paul describes the early Christians, sounds like a little piece of heaven. It is like a letter of instruction on how to form community with one another and how to be happy. It’s just awesome. There isn’t a single word we could add to his words. Perhaps we should end this reflection today, by slowing down and savoring Saint Paul’s words, to really listen to them and let them sink deeply into our minds and hearts today. Maybe it really is possible to live like this:
“We, though many, are one Body in Christ and individually parts of one another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them; if prophecy, in proportion to the faith; if ministry, in ministering; if one is a teacher, in teaching; if one exhorts, in exhortation; if one contributes, in generosity; if one is over others, with diligence; if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality. Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Have the same regard for one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly.”
Daily Mass Readings:
Rom 12: 5-16ab / Ps 131: 1bcde, 2, 3 / Lk 14: 15-24
