WILL YOU BE INVITED?

In the gospel (Lk 14:12-14), Jesus points to the reward that is to be given to us at the end of our earthly life’ at the resurrection of the righteous. By inviting the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind, persons who cannot invite us back, who cannot repay our righteous deeds, we are allowing the Lord to reward us. This is unlikely when we invite friends and relatives who can easily invite us back. We have received, then, a cheap reward here on earth.

More than us focusing on the rewards, whether immediate or delayed, Jesus places greater emphasis on the need to discipline one's self in choosing the difficult path; being firm and dedicated to treading it; as it would bring us to a better destination. This is the path He himself took; the way of the cross that leads to the glory of the resurrection.

It is very tempting to take the easy way and easily get one's  reward; to not heed God's call and command but rather satisfy one's desire for comfort in the present.

The Good News is that even in our disobedience, the answer of God out of His great love for us is not punishment, but mercy (Romans 11:29-36). And this is beyond logic. How inscrutable are His judgments and how unsearchable His ways. God's love desires to rectify our waywardness that we may choose the reward that awaits us in heaven where the Lord has spread a great banquet for us.

Will you be invited in that banquet?

Or will you have too much of feasting here on earth?