DAILY GOSPEL AND PRAYER REFLECTIONS (November 7, 2017)

November 7, 2017 – TUESDAY, 31st Week in Ordinary Time

Green

Rom 12: 5 - 16ab / Lk 14: 15- 24

FROM THE FIRST READING: Rom 12: 9- 16ab
Let love be sincere. Hate what is evil and hold to whatever is good. Love one another and be considerate. Outdo one another in mutual respect. Be zealous in fulfilling your duties. Be fervent in the Spirit and serve God.

Have hope and be cheerful. Be patient in trials and pray constantly. Share with other Christians in need. With those passing by, be ready to receive them.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not wish evil on anyone. Rejoice with those who are joyful and weep with those who weep. Live in peace with one another.

GOSPEL READING: Lk 14: 15- 24
Upon hearing these words, one of those at the table said to Jesus, "Happy are those who eat at the banquet in the kingdom of God!" Jesus replied, "A man once gave a feast and invited many guests. When it was time for the feast he sent his servant to tell those he had invited to come, for everything was ready. But all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'Please excuse me. I must go and see the piece of land I just bought.' Another said, 'I am sorry but I am now on my way to try out the five yoke of oxen I have just bought.' Still another said, 'How can I come when I have just married?'

"The servant returned alone and reported this to his master. Upon hearing the account, the master of the house flew into a rage and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.'

"The servant reported after a while: 'Sir, your orders have been carried out, but there is still room.' The master said, 'Go out to the highways and country lanes and force people to come in, to make sure my house is full. I tell you, none of those invited will have a morsel of my feast."'

REFLECTION
In the first reading Paul reiterates Our Lord's teachings about love of neighbor: "Let love be sincere. Hate what is evil and hold to whatever is good. Love one another and be considerate. Outdo one another in mutual respect." "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not wish evil on anyone. Rejoice with those who are joyful and weep with those who weep. Live in peace with one another."

Life is indeed about loving God and loving neighbor. And "if you say, 'I love God,' while you hate your brother or sister, you are a liar. How can you love God whom you do not see, if you do not love your brother whom you see?" (1 Jn 4: 20)

In the Gospel reading Jesus tells us that the heavenly banquet is prepared for all.

http://www.marythequeen.org

GOOD NEWS REFLECTION

Today's Prayer:
I praise You and bless You, my Lord, because you look kindly on those who need you most. I need You, Lord. Thank You for looking at me and drawing me nearer to You. Amen.

Today's Readings:
Romans 12:5-16ab
Ps 131:1-3
Luke 14:15-24
www.usccb.org/bible/readings/110717.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/17_11_07.mp3

Pray your way to peace

As Christians, we claim that in Jesus Christ we have found peace. And yet, despite our faith, we live in turmoil, anxiety, and the inner struggle for self esteem and acceptance. When we don't like the way others treat us, we go to battle. We don't know how to live in peace.

This happens because we get so busy taking care of the business and busyness of our lives that we miss the party that Jesus is hosting. Today's Gospel reading teaches us that we only find true happiness when we accept the Lord's invitation to dine with him -- i.e., when we take time to enjoy his company and let him nourish us. Mass is an example of this type of banquet, but the invitation is for every day, all day.

We cannot taste a morsel of God's goodness while we're too busy or too distracted to stop, sit down, chat and dine with him. We need time alone with God, and our private parties with him should include all four stages if we're to experience a life of peace.

1. Stop. Make the time to accept Christ's invitation to dine with him (the time for it won't exist unless you make the time).

2. Sit down. Put aside all distractions, all the excuses and reasons for doing something else with this time. Focus on God and your relationship with him. Otherwise, even if you're sitting in a pew during Mass, you won't be sitting with Jesus.

3. Chat. Tell Jesus that you love him. Thank him for being so good to you. Unload upon him the burdens of your concerns, worries, inner struggles, etc., but don't forget to talk about the good stuff, too. After all, how do you feel when a friend only talks about troubles and complaints? Be a friend to Jesus by chatting with him about your joys and blessings and the thoughts that are uplifting to hear.

4. Dine. Allow Jesus to nourish you. Meditate on a scripture or discuss what you recently read in a book that is helping you to grow spiritually. Let him feed your dreams and hopes and desires as well as your hunger for love and acceptance.

If you do this daily, the burdens will become lighter and the worries less fearsome. Your self esteem will grow as you experience God's acceptance of you and his appreciation for you. You'll become more aware of the gifts that he's given you and you'll become inspired by the Holy Spirit to use those gifts. You'll identify the purpose -- the importance -- of your everyday life.

In other words, you'll find peace!