Monday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

“Alms to the Poor”
by Martin Drolling, c. 1815

Readings for Monday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible

Readings and Commentary:[3]

Reading 1: Philippians 2:1-4

If there is any encouragement in Christ,

any solace in love,

any participation in the Spirit,

any compassion and mercy,

complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love,

united in heart, thinking one thing.

Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory;

rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves,

each looking out not for his own interests,

but (also) everyone for those of others.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Commentary on Phil 2:1-4

St. Paul continues his affectionate teaching of the Philippians enjoining them to be in harmony with each other if they wish to make him, their brother and exemplar, happy with them (“…complete my joy by being of the same mind”).  He tells them to place the good of their brothers and sisters before their own interests, in this way adopting an attitude also of humility which will be exalted in the next verses.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 131:1bcde, 2, 3

R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.

LORD, my heart is not proud;

nor are my eyes haughty.

I do not busy myself with great matters,

with things too sublime for me.

R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.

Rather, I have stilled my soul,

hushed it like a weaned child.

Like a weaned child on its mother's lap,

so is my soul within me.

R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.

Israel, hope in the LORD,

now and forever.

R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Commentary on Ps 131:1bcde, 2, 3

Linking into St. Paul’s request for harmony and humility among the members of the community; the singer proclaims trust in the Lord and peace, like a child’s contented peace, in that trust.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gospel: Luke 14:12-14

Then he said to the host who invited him,

"When you hold a lunch or a dinner,

do not invite your friends or your brothers

or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors,

in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.

Rather, when you hold a banquet,

invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;

blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.

For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Commentary on Lk 14:12-14

(On a sabbath he went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees 14:1) Following on the teaching about humility (those seeking places of honor at the banquet) Jesus now goes on to speak of service to the poor and to those who are not expected to repay. The purpose of this discourse reflects Jesus’ concern that his disciples should minister to the poor not just to those who could repay them for their efforts.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reflection:

There is a very subtle difference between pride and expected courtesy on occasions were guests are invited into one’s home.  On the one hand, we feel obligated to serve our guests the foods they will enjoy, in a home as clean and comfortable as we can make it.  On the other hand, there is “One ups-man-ship.”  The thought that we went to dinner at so-and-so’s house last month and they set an opulent table – we now, in our turn, must try to out-do them.  Our menu must be more exotic, our home more inviting and bedecked with more signs of secular success.  This attitude is the one Jesus addresses to his disciples in St. Luke’s Gospel.

When we think about who we minister to, do we gravitate toward those who have much to give in return or do we seek those who have nothing, in order to give them something?  Do we serve others who in turn can serve us (and better) or do we offer our service, knowing as Christ encouraged, that we will not be repaid?

St. Paul, addressing the Philippians, clearly has an idealistic view of how the Christian community should operate.  He wishes his disciples to be in complete harmony and unity with one another, sharing the wealth of the community equally – a very communal view of church.  That would mean then that when a new member was brought into such a community, the expectation would be for that person to share what they had, great or small, and would receive an equal share (which might be larger or smaller that what they brought to the community).

There was good reason for the Pauline communities to establish a three year introduction to the communal life (their form of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults).  The needed to make sure the shared faith and attitudes were there.

Back to the main message – we are “fools for Christ” as St. Paul has said elsewhere.  As such we give without expectation of repayment.  We offer help without expectation of reciprocity.  Our example is Jesus who never turned his back on those in need and offered the most unworthy a place at the wedding banquet.  If we are worried that a person might take advantage of us, we have probably not made a deep enough commitment to help that person.

Perhaps an explanation is needed for that statement.  If we are asked, say by a person begging on the street for money so they can buy food, why not, instead of money, take that person to a place where they can be feed?  (This does not mean to throw out common sense!  Have a prudent and realistic view of potentially dangerous situations.  Act in concert with people you trust not alone.)  If a person asks for work; offer work if you can and reward that person generously.  Many who just give money to such a person are contributing to degrading that person’s dignity.

The key point Jesus is making in the Gospel is the need for those with more to look after those with less, it is a consistent message of love; love of those with more for those with less, love of those in power for those who are powerless, love by those who are loved for the unloved.  And this will be our prayer for today – that we may use the examples of the Saints to love the poor and build up the Body of Christ that is the Church by extending the loving hand of Christ to those we meet.

Pax

---

[1] ALTRE

[2] The picture used today is “Alms to the Poor” by Martin Drolling, c. 1815

[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL).  This re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.