November 3, 2009, Tuesday St. Martin de Porres

Read: Rom 12:5-16 Lk. 14: 15-24

Opening Prayer
 

“‘Blessed is the one who will dine in the kingdom of God.’ Jesus replied, ‘A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many. When the time for the dinner came, he dispatched his servant to say to those in­vited, ‘Come, everything is now ready.’ But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves.” (Lk. 14:15-18)

Jesus, on many occasions, com­pared the fullness of the Kingdom of God to a banquet, and we are the invited guests:

“I say to you, many will come and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the ban­quet in the kingdom of heaven, but the children of the kingdom will be driven out into the outer darkness, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.” (Mt. 8:11-12)

We must give Jesus a response to His invitation:

“He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come.” (Mt. 22:3)

He is offering an invitation to happiness and joy living in His love. “Go to the main roads and invite to the feast whom­ever you find.” (Mt. 22:9)

What gives unity to the eternal love of God is the Blessed Sac­rament, which Jesus left as our earthly banquet in anticipation of the eternal banquet to come.

“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.” (Jn. 6:54)

Reflection and commentary

Psalm 23:5 “You set a table before me as my enemies watch.”

St. Martin de Porres, d. 1639; O.P.; born in Lima, Peru, of a Span­ish father and a black slave mother; he humbly ministered to the poor and sick, especially blacks; devoted to the holy Eucharist; a close friend of St. Rose of Lima; patron of social justice and of people of mixed race.

Our Prayer Continues