November 4, 2025
Memorial of Saint Charles
Borromeo, Bishop
Lectionary: 486
Reading
1
Brothers and
sisters:
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.
Responsorial
Psalm
R. In you,
O Lord, I have found my peace.
O LORD, my heart is not proud,
nor are my eyes haughty;
I busy not myself with great things,
nor with things too sublime for me.
R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
Nay rather, I have stilled and quieted
my soul like a weaned child.
Like a weaned child on its mother's lap,
so is my soul within me.
R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
O Israel, hope in the LORD,
both now and forever.
R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
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.'
But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves.
The first said to him,
'I have purchased a field and must go to examine it;
I ask you, consider me excused.'
And another said, 'I have purchased five yoke of oxen
and am on my way to evaluate them;
I ask you, consider me excused.'
And another said, 'I have just married a woman,
and therefore I cannot come.'
The servant went and reported this to his master.
Then the master of the house in a rage commanded his servant,
'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town
and bring in here the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame.'
The servant reported, 'Sir, your orders have been carried out
and still there is room.'
The master then ordered the servant,
'Go out to the highways and hedgerows
and make people come in that my home may be filled.
For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my
dinner.'"
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110425.cfm
Commentary on Romans
12:5-16
As Paul comes to the end of his Letter (we will finish
reading it this week), in his usual way he has some advice of a practical
nature for the Christian community in Rome. This does not mean that he has not
said anything about Christian living up to this point, but he now goes into
detail to show that Jesus Christ is to be Lord in every area of our life.
These chapters are not a postscript to the great theological discussions we
have seen so far. What he has said about God and our relationship to him
in Jesus Christ must also flow out into the way we behave and relate to each
other. True faith cannot stand by itself. It must find expression
in the way we act:
…the only thing that counts is faith working through
love.
(Gal 5:6)
This means submitting ourselves totally to Jesus Christ and
his Way.
Paul begins with a critical statement on which all that
follows depends:
…so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and
individually we are members one of another.
It is not just that each one of us through baptism is united
with Christ, but that because of the presence of Christ in each one of us, we
are essentially united to each other in one family. In his First Letter
to the Corinthians Paul speaks of this at length. Speaking to the
Christians he says plainly:
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members
of it. (1 Cor 12:27)
This is the basis for all that follows. We can only
love and serve Christ in loving and serving each other. Christians are
not isolated individuals. The community forms an interlocking and
interdependent relationship in which each member offers their particular gift
or charism in the service of the whole community.
Although we are united together as brothers and sisters in
one family, there are important differences between each person. Unity
implies diversity. Each one has been endowed with a distinct gift or
‘charism’ by which one serves the community in a unique way. These gifts are to
be openly acknowledged and used for the good of the community and for
individuals in it.
Paul then mentions some of these gifts:
Prophecy:
This is one of the most highly rated gifts; it is the gift by which a person
communicates special messages from God to the community; such people are often
gifted with a deep insight into the needs of the community and the direction in
which it should be going. They may give words of encouragement or of
warning. We should, however, be aware that in other parts of the New
Testament there are warnings about false prophets.
Service/Ministry:
This is in the sense that one is called to give a special service to the needs
of others. Some of these ministries are more formal than others and may
be recognised by a laying of hands on the person chosen for a particular
ministry. But everyone in the community is called on for service, which
is really love in action.
Teacher:
Some have the task of forming the community in their understanding of the
Christian message. They are distinct from the prophet.
Exhortation:
There are those who have a special gift for inspiring the members in living
their Christian life to the full. Their counterparts today would be
outstanding preachers or writers. But it can include all forms of
encouragement in living the Christian life to the full.
Alms-giving:
In Paul’s time, many of the Christians were poor and not in a position to give
alms. And in every community there would be the sick, the poor, the
elderly, orphans and widows. But there would be some who had a surplus
they could share, and this they should do with generosity. Paul regularly
urged richer communities to share what they had with poorer communities.
Authority:
The leaders of the community, like the elders, should use the authority
entrusted to them with care, with justice and, above all, to empower and enrich
the community. It should never be used for the implementation of their
own personal agenda or to exercise a sense of control over others. In the
spirit of the gospel, the one in authority is a servant, seeking the well being
of those to whom he is responsible.
Works of mercy:
These were something all could do, but perhaps some were temperamentally more
suited to this work. Paul says it should be done with cheerfulness.
There is nothing less desirable than those who offer help grudgingly and out of
a sense of ‘duty’. As Paul wrote:
God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Cor 9:7)
Paul then goes on to some more general advice on the kind of
attitudes that individuals should have in their mutual relationships. He
mentions things like:
Sincerity:
Being sincere by always meaning what we say and saying what we mean.
Avoiding what
is clearly evil.
Loving one
another with real affection, like brothers and sisters. We can
‘love’ in a very functional way as we respond to other’s needs. Paul is
asking for a warmer relationship:
…love one another with mutual affection; outdo one
another in showing honor.
What he urges is real love and not just ‘charity’.
Anticipating
each other in showing respect and not always waiting for people to be
respectful to us first, or withholding respect if we don’t get any.
In serving
the Lord, working not half-heartedly, but conscientiously and eagerly.
Being joyful in
hope, persevering in time of trial, and always praying regularly.
One prays not only in hard times, but keeps in union with God at all times.
Looking to the
needs of brothers and sisters in Christ (the ‘saints’), and being
generous in offering them the hospitality of our homes.
Living in a society where Christians were suspected, hated
and attacked, he urges them to “bless” their persecutors and not to curse
them. This is advice that Jesus himself had given. To pay back
one’s persecutors in kind is to bring oneself down to their level.
Blessing and praying for them is not only not impossible; it
is the only way to bring about change—in them and us. Therefore, St Paul adds:
Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
Elsewhere Paul, speaking of himself will say that he is all
things to all people. He adapts himself to their needs, which is not at
all the same as doing just what they want.
Finally, he urges each person to “live in harmony with one
another”. Not in the sense of being blind to each one’s virtues and defects,
but as God himself does, to reach out impartially to all with the same measure
of love and concern, to be free of bias and prejudice and to act with real
justice.
Reflecting on this passage, we can each ask ourselves what
particular gifts has God given to me with which to serve both our Church
community and the wider community? How often do I actually think about
this?
It is something which, to some extent, we have lost in many
of our parishes. So often in our Mass assemblies—which often is the only
time we get together—we come as private families or as individuals with little
concern or interest for those around us. “I go to the 11 o’clock Mass
because the time is convenient and I like the choir.” By being “at” Mass
I have fulfilled my “weekly duty”. Is that what the Eucharist is about?
Where is that interlocking and interdependent community that Paul speaks about
here?
The second part of the reading concerns more about how each
individual, and we today, could usefully make an examination of conscience on
the headings that Paul lists to evaluate how well we are doing. Although they
concern each individual, they are all linked to our relations with others.
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Commentary on Luke
14:15-24
Today we have the last of four teachings of Jesus linked
with meals. It was prompted by the remark of a guest at table who said:
Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of
God!
It was very common to associate the future Messianic Kingdom
with a banquet. Jesus responds with a parable which is a warning to his
complacent listeners, many of whom probably smugly presumed that they would be
among the small minority chosen to eat in the Kingdom.
A man threw a large dinner party with many guests invited.
But when the time came and the guests were reminded, one after another they
gave excuses why they were not able to come. One had just bought a piece of land
and had to inspect it; another had just bought some oxen and had to try them
out; a third had just been married.
It seems that the original invitation had been accepted, but
when the final invitation came, excuses were made. In fact, none of the excuses
has much validity. One would not buy a field and only then look at it, nor
would one buy oxen without having tried them out before the purchase.
On hearing this, the master got very angry and ordered his
servants to:
Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and
bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.
After this, the servants reported that there was still room,
so they were given orders to scour the roads and bring in as many as they could
find. Said the host:
Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to
come in, so that my house may be filled.
The parable is a clear message from Jesus to his Jewish
listeners. Many of them, especially the religious leaders steeped in
complacency and presumption, had rejected the invitation to follow Jesus and
enter the Kingdom. Some of them would actually conspire to bring about his
death. Their place would be given to those formerly seen as outcasts, both Jews
and Gentiles, people aware of their needs, i.e. the “poor in spirit”. There would
be a special place for the poor and the disabled, people often seen by
traditional Jews as people abandoned by God and buried in sin.
To go back to the beginning of the passage, blessed indeed
are those who eat together in the Kingdom, but it is clear that only those who
respond to the invitation will enjoy the privilege.
We have no more right to presumption than those Jews who
rejected Christ. We too are being invited to go into the Lord’s banquet hall,
but it is important that we respond to the call. We do that by our totally
accepting and living out the teaching of Jesus our Lord. And part of that
teaching is that we, too, invite and welcome into our community those who are
poor, crippled (in some way), the blind and the lame—taking these words in their
broadest sense. No more than those fellow diners of Jesus, our presence at the
Kingdom banquet is never to be taken for granted.
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https://livingspace.sacredspace.ie/o1313g/
Tuesday,
November 4, 2025
Ordinary Time
Opening prayer
God of power and
mercy, only with Your help can we offer You fitting service and praise. May we
live the faith we profess and trust Your promise of eternal life.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who
lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Gospel reading - Luke 14:15-24
One of those gathered round
the table said to Jesus, "Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the
kingdom of God." But He said to him, "There was a man who gave a
great banquet, and he invited a large number of people. When the time for the
banquet came, he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come
along: everything is ready now.’ But all alike started to make excuses. The
first said, ‘I have bought a piece of land and must go and see it. Please
accept my apologies.’
Another said, ‘I have bought five
yoke of oxen and am on my way to try them out. Please accept my apologies.’
Yet another said, ‘I have just got married and so am unable
to come.’
The servant
returned and reported this to his master. Then the householder, in a rage, said
to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and
bring in here the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’
’Sir,’ said the servant, ’your orders have been carried out
and there is still room.’ Then the master said to his servant, ‘Go to the open
roads and the lanes and press people to come in, to make sure my house is full;
because, I tell you, not one of those who were invited shall have a taste of my
banquet.’”
Reflection
•
The Gospel today continues the reflection on
themes linked to the table and the invitation. Jesus tells the parable of the
banquet. Many people had been invited, but the majority did not go. The master
of the feast was indignant because of the absence of those who had been invited
and then sent his servants to call the poor, the crippled, the blind and the
lame. Even after that, there was still room. Then he ordered his servant to
invite everybody until his house was full. This parable was a light for the
communities of Luke’s time.
•
In the communities at the time of Luke there
were Christians who had come from Judaism and Christians who came from the
Gentiles, called pagans. Notwithstanding the difference in race, class and
gender, they profoundly lived the ideal of sharing and of communion (Acts 2:42;
4:32; 5:12). But there were many difficulties because some norms of legal
purity prevented the Jews from eating with the pagans. Even after they had
entered into the Christian community, some of them kept this old custom of not
sitting at table with a pagan. This is the reason Peter had a conflict with the
community in Jerusalem, because he entered into the house of Cornelius, a
pagan, and ate with him (Acts 11:3). Because of these problems in the
communities, Luke kept a series of teachings of Jesus regarding the banquet. (Lk
14:1-24). The parable
on which we are meditating is an
image of what was happening in the communities.
•
Luke 14:15: Blessed are those who will eat the
bread of the Kingdom of God. Jesus had finished telling two parables: one on
the choice of places (Lk 14:7-11), and the other on the choice of guests who
were invited (Lk 14:12-14). While listening to this parable someone who was at
table with Jesus must have picked up the importance of the teaching of Jesus
and said, “Blessed are those who eat the bread of the Kingdom of God!” The Jews
compared the future time of the Messiah to a banquet, characterized by
gratitude and communion (Isa 25:6; 55:1-2; Ps 22:27). Hunger, poverty and the
lack of so many things made the people hope that in the future they would obtain
what they were lacking and did not have at present. The hope of the Messianic
goods, usually experienced in banquets, was a glimpse of the end of time.
•
Luke 14:16-20: The great banquet is ready. Jesus
responds with a parable. There was a man who gave a great banquet and he
invited a great number of people”. But the duty of each one prevents the guest
from accepting the invitation. The first one says, “I have bought a piece of
land and must go and see it!” The second, “I have bought five yoke of oxen and
am on my way to try them out!” The third one, “I have just got married and so
am unable to come!” Under the limits of the law those people had the right not
to accept the invitation (cf. Deut 20:5-7).
•
Luke 14:21-22: The invitation remains, it is not
cancelled. The master of the banquet was indignant in seeing that his
invitation had not been accepted. In the last instance, the one who is
indignant is precisely Jesus because the norms of the strict observance of the
law reduced the space for people to be able to live the gratuity of an
invitation to the house of friends, an invitation characterized by fraternal
spirit and by sharing. Thus the master of the feast orders the servants to
invite the poor, the blind, the crippled, and the lame. Those who were normally
excluded because they were considered unclean are now invited to sit around the
banquet table.
•
Luke 14:23-24: There is still room. The banquet
room is not full. Then the master of the house ordered the servants to invite
those passing on the street. Those are the pagans. They are also invited to sit
around the table. Thus, in the banquet of the parable of Jesus, everybody sits
around the same table, Jews and pagans. At the time of Luke, there were many
problems which prevented the realization of this ideal of the common banquet.
By means of the parable Luke shows that the practice of the banquet came
precisely from Jesus.
•
After the destruction of Jerusalem, in the year
70, the Pharisees took over the government in the synagogues demanding the
rigid fulfillment of the norms which identified them as the Jewish people. The
Jews who converted to Christianity were considered a threat because they
destroyed the walls which separated Israel from other people. The Pharisees
tried to force them to abandon their faith in Jesus. Because they did not
succeed, they drove them away from the synagogues. All this brought about a
slow and progressive separation between the Jews and the Christians which was a
source of great suffering especially for the converted Jews (Rom 9:1-5). In the
parable, Luke indicates very clearly that these converted Jews were not
unfaithful to their people. On the contrary, they are the ones who are invited
and accept the invitation. They are the true continuation of Israel. Those who
were unfaithful were those who did not accept the invitation and did not want
to recognize Jesus the Messiah (Lk 22:66; Acts 13: 27).
Personal questions
•
In general, who are the people who are invited
and who are the people who in general are not invited to our feasts?
•
What are the reasons which today limit the
participation of people in society and in the Church? And what are the reasons
that some give to exclude themselves from the community? Are they just reasons?
Concluding prayer
Full of splendor and majesty His work, His saving justice
stands firm for ever.
He gives us a memorial of His great deeds; Yahweh is mercy
and tenderness. (Ps 111:3-4)
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