Gospel for August 28 2022 – Luke 14:1, 7-14
Gospel Reflections for August 28 2022
No charge!
Do you believe people if they say “No charge” after doing you a favor? Many do not. This Gospel presents one of the hardest things to ever accept, that anyone would really give something away for free. Who does that?
Do you believe that ever happens? Do you look for the fine print or the hidden catch when offered something for free? After all, isn’t it true there is no such thing as a free lunch. The Gospel ends with the story of someone offering just that!
Our Lord encourages freely giving of ourselves precisely to people, like the poor, who cannot possibly repay our generosity to them.
Last weekend in our parish, as in many parishes at this time, we welcomed a Bishop from India who spoke about the Church’s efforts in some of the poorest areas of the world. But why is the Church in those poor areas? What is the benefit for the Church to be in areas of extreme poverty? After all, restaurants never build there, stores don’t open there, and companies never start factories there. Restaurants, stores, and companies expect some fair and just return on their investment either for the owners or shareholders. Why invest where there is no possibility of an economic return?
I understand that economic reasoning. However, the Catholic Church has a different motive. We bring Christ to the poorest areas of the world precisely because we believe that the presence of Christ in the hearts of people anywhere, even in the poorest areas, will make their lives happier. We go there not to get something …but only to offer a happier spiritual and secure life to them.
That anyone would ever offer something for the good of another at no cost seems hard to believe, yet we do so all the time for those we love. Parents do all kinds of wonderful things for their kids all day long …and without ever submitting a bill! They are simply glad to make the lives of their children happier, especially now as schools are starting again.
In this week that we recognized the Church’s missionary efforts, we simply affirm that those poor people in distant lands are also members of our Catholic family. We are happy to support any effort to make Our Lord present to them, since we know that amazing divine presence is the ultimate source of true and lasting happiness …and it comes with no charge!
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
The image and motive of Saints like Junipero Serra are affected by our understanding in his desire to educate and save souls of indiginous people by humans disbelief in what He was about. We have a hard time believing that there was not a catch.
The idea that a person could do what He did with pure motives is hard to believe. Our Faith requires us to help those that need assistance.
How we respond to those in need will determine our Spiritual Success in Life.
You are right. Junipero Serra was an amazing example of this Gospel. He gave his all for people who could never repay him.
Dear Father Dave,
Thanks so much for your synopsis on giving freely with kindness.
It’s a beautiful way to think and behave.
God bless.
Kathleen
You are welcome!
Love your precious concept that we are one family and we must reach out to each other in love, help, kindness!!! Then we will overwhelm our world in Jesus’ precious love for it is in giving that we receive!!! What a beautiful world we would encounter!!! Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Franca and Dick
Thank you!