The months of November and December both have great feasts in them, namely, Thanksgiving and Christmas. I happened to hear a video of an excellent talk by a speaker at the summer NAPA conference this year about the importance of hospitality in human relations. The very next day I happened to read the Gospel for that day (November 6th) about the Parable of the Banquet in Lk 14. The meditation in Word Among Us that day was excellent. Not taking this as a mere coincidence, I include that fine meditation below.

Luke 14:12-14

When you hold a banquet, invite the poor. (Luke 14:13)

For Jesus, the dinner table is a sacred place. He often chose to make a personal connection with people by coming to eat at their homes. Because Jesus is present in the sacred meal of the Eucharist, heaven touches earth at every Mass. This holy encounter will continue into eternity in the “wedding feast of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9).

But even ordinary mealtimes can provide opportunities to meet with God. From Abraham to Rahab to the first disciples, God’s people encountered their Lord by showing hospitality (Genesis 18; Joshua 2; Acts 2:44). Even more, they reflected the generous hospitality of God himself.

So when Jesus talks about holding a banquet and inviting the poor, he’s inviting us to be hospitable like his Father (Luke 14:13). He’s asking us to rework our guest lists and reorient our hearts. He’s asking us to open our arms to the suffering and marginalized and see them with his compassion. And he’s reminding us that people who are poor or suffering have great dignity.

Jesus is not just describing a meal offered, but a meal shared as family. We can truly encounter and connect with another person by welcoming them, by being present and listening, and by experiencing God’s love together. As we sit at such a table, walls begin to tumble. Sharing a meal communicates love in tangible ways that surpass words, and a stranger can become a brother or a sister.

We might not know how to “invite the poor” into our lives, but we can start by asking the Holy Spirit to show us someone who is hungry—whether for food or for an experience of God’s love. The Spirit can open our eyes and help us to reach out to them. People often have simple, ordinary needs. Even a smile or a few dollars or a kind word can open the door to the hospitality God wants us to show. As we talk with them, we may have an opportunity for a longer encounter—perhaps by getting a cup of coffee or inviting them to lunch. There, we will also encounter the God who lives within them. We can affirm the beauty and dignity he has breathed into their souls—and find Jesus himself.

“Lord, open my heart, my schedule, and my table today to someone who is poor or poor in spirit today.”

Romans 11:29-36

Psalm 69:30-31, 33-34, 36

@stpeterdanb