Gospel of the day
From the Gospel according to Luke 14:12-14
On a sabbath Jesus went to dine
at the home of one of the leading Pharisees.
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 sisters
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.”
Without Expecting Any Reward
When we extend an invitation, we might think that we are offering something of our own to others — our home, our food, our time — and so we tend to do it with those we love. It’s also common to expect that those who appreciate us will respond in kind; we even consider it fair to expect reciprocity. Yet the Lord’s logic is quite different. His justice works in another way. What I have is not truly mine — it has been freely given to me, and so I must share it freely, without expecting anything in return.
In fact, Jesus encourages us to give precisely when we know we won’t be repaid, so that our desire to give of ourselves (without expecting a return) may be genuine. He knows our weakness. In marriage, those moments when we give ourselves — even knowing that our spouse will not reciprocate (perhaps because of sin, illness, or temperament) — are precisely when we are fulfilling this command of Jesus.
There are many times when that resurrection and that reward do come in this life (we in the Marital Love Project have witnessed it), and others when we shall have to wait until eternal life. Only God knows.
Brought into Married Life
Paul: Lucy, the psychologist has confirmed the diagnosis we feared. All my difficulties stem from a syndrome that prevents me from showing emotions and understanding social relationships. I’m not going to be able to give you what you’ve so often asked for. This is for life — I can only improve superficially.
Lucy: I’ve been reading about it, trying to understand how I can help you. And today’s Gospel happened to speak exactly about this. I’ve always asked you — and sometimes even demanded — to be more affectionate and attentive, and that’s caused many of our arguments. The Lord is asking me to welcome you as you truly are. He knows the depths of your heart, and He tells me that you are His delight. He will help me to know you more deeply and love you better. You’ve taken a very important step for me, my love. Thank you for wanting to seek answers.
Paul: I was afraid you wouldn’t want to spend the rest of your life with me after finding this out.
Lucy: Paul, the Lord chose us to be together from all eternity. He doesn’t make mistakes, and I trust in Him. This is the path of our happiness — and of our holiness.
Mother,
May our joy be found in giving of ourselves without expecting anything in return.
Amen. Praise be to God!