Jesus, the Host!

Tuesday, November 4, 2024

Phil 2:5-11; Lk 14:15-24

Today’s Gospel invites us to engage in a role-play between Jesus and the nameless speaker (probably a Pharisee himself!) as the hosts. 

The role-play exercise will help us understand the deeper meaning of today’s Gospel better. 

The nameless speaker says to Jesus, ‘Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the Kingdom of God.’ 

Unfortunately, his statement reveals his assumptions of the Jewish privilege as the Chosen people. 

The banquet looks different from his point of view. 

The Nameless Speaker as the Host:

• Sitting at the Kingdom table happens by default for the Chosen people. 

• There is no awareness or mention of God’s invitation, which is not binding on them.

• Because they disregard God’s invitation, the ‘response part’ is taken for granted. 

• God’s Kingdom is only for the chosen. 

But Jesus reverses the order by now turning himself into a host. 

Jesus as the Host: 

• Sitting at the eschatological banquet is not a given for the Chosen people. 

• Not honoring God’s invitation despite reminders results in exclusion. 

• But the generous and enthusiastic response by people from the streets, alleyways, roadside, and country lanes is rewarded with an unconditional inclusion in the eschatological banquet. 

• God’s Kingdom is open to all. 

Since the ‘great reversal’ is a Divine agenda, we must do our part to advance it.

We are co-workers of God if we make the mission of justice ours too. 

Let us pray for the grace to make God’s will ours and work for justice and peace in the world. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar