03/11/2025
Monday 03 November
31st Week in Ordinary Time Year C
Rom. 11:29-36; Lk. 14:12-14
Fr. Dufe Joseph OFM Cap.
Jesus warns us about having distorted ulterior motives in relation to how we act towards one another – being selective. Responding to a situation that will give the glory to us, or that in some way will gratify our own needs is pure egoism. We must not seek reward for our actions towards others, but always do what is best for them and treat them with the respect they deserve, without expecting anything in return. There is a famous sculpture by the Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz, called the “Homeless Jesus”. At first glance you think it is a real person on a park bench; at second glance you see that it is a sculpture; and, at third glance, you see the holes in the feet and realise that it is Christ. The moment the viewer realises that the figure is Christ, reminds us that often we look at the homeless, but do not see. We need to look and look and look before we can really see. Once we have seen, we are called upon to drop our calculative schemes that make the world a horrible place to live in.
In fact, so much of our behaviour and choices are determined, or at least influenced by the expectations and behaviour of others – to the point that we end up discovering that we are living the lives of others and not our own. Jesus uses a straightforward yet telling example to challenge us to give freely, not expecting anything back. We can do this only if we are aware that we also have received freely and cannot repay God for his generosity. But sitting and expecting that others do things for us, we will only be deceiving ourselves. This also calls to mind those who are totally without the advantages we enjoy: Jesus wishes such blessings for them too. But how can we wish anything less for them? What might we do to express our gratitude to God for being so good to us?
Yes, Jesus knows our hearts, and poses a radical challenge to the many ways the ego inside the heart invents things in its self-seeking. He invites us to have a free and open heart, one that does not seek any recompense for being generous. “You received without payment; give without payment”, Jesus once said (Matthew 10:8). This is what lies at the basis of this seemingly irrational demand of Jesus: we are the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind whom God has invited to his banquet. Let us try to do the same with others. As Paul says, God has called us, and there is no turning back. We have received knowledge about him; now we are wise. Turning back is being foolish.
