Daily Catholic Lectio
Tue, 3 Nov 2026
XXXI Week in Ordinary Time
Phil 2:5-11; Lk 14:15-24
Come to the Banquet!
“Those who reject the invitation to the Kingdom of God and discipleship, and those who accept it only under pressure, do not truly taste and enjoy them.”
The meal of Jesus at the house of a Pharisee develops through several moments: the healing of the man with dropsy, advice to the guests, advice to those who invite others to a banquet, and finally the parable of the great banquet.
One of those sitting at table with Jesus, after listening to His teaching, says: “Blessed is the one who will eat at the banquet in the Kingdom of God!” His words surprise us. From the visible meal taking place before him, he lifts his thoughts towards the unseen banquet of the Kingdom of God. He also seems to understand that the mighty works and teachings of Jesus must be understood in the light of the Kingdom.
What does the banquet of the Kingdom mean for him?
(a) At the banquet of the Kingdom, even exceptions can become rules. Healing is possible even on the Sabbath.
(b) Those invited to the banquet of the Kingdom do not seek the places of honour.
(c) The invitation to the banquet of the Kingdom is given especially to those who cannot repay, and to people living on the margins of society.
Jesus responds to the statement of this unnamed person with a parable.
A man prepares a great banquet and invites many people. When the time for the banquet arrives, those who were invited begin to make excuses instead of coming. One speaks about a field, another about oxen, and another about marriage. The invitation is then extended to the poor, the disabled, the blind, and the lame. Since there is still room, others are strongly urged to come in.
The parable ends with the words of Jesus: “None of those who were invited will taste my banquet.”
Symbolically, we may understand the banquet as the Kingdom of God, the time of the banquet as the first coming of Jesus, the invited guests as the Jewish people, their excuses as their other priorities, and those invited later as the Gentiles.
Or, in the light of the passage that follows, the banquet may also be understood as discipleship. The excuses show attitudes that are not suitable for discipleship, and those who come only because of pressure may never truly taste the joy of discipleship.
The excuses reveal three possible obstacles to discipleship: possessions — “I have bought a field”; personal business — “I have bought five yoke of oxen”; and family or marital relationships — “I have just been married.”
Those invited first do not taste the banquet because they reject it. They have other priorities.
Those invited later may also fail to taste the banquet if they come only because they are forced or pressured.
What, then, does this parable teach us about the Kingdom of God and discipleship?
(a) The invitation is freely given as a gift. God Himself graciously calls us and blesses us with His gifts.
(b) The Kingdom of God and discipleship are meant for everyone.
(c) God respects the inner freedom of the one who is called.
(d) Those who are invited must prepare themselves to be worthy of the banquet.
This parable raises two important questions for us: Are our priorities in the right order? Do we allow external pressures to control our choices?
Let us not allow Jesus to say that we too, though invited, will not taste the banquet. Let the Kingdom of God and discipleship become the true priorities of our lives.
In today’s first reading, Paul writes to the Church at Philippi: “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” He then presents the beautiful Christological hymn about the self-emptying and self-giving of Jesus.
“Those who reject the invitation to the Kingdom of God and discipleship, and those who accept it only under pressure, do not truly taste and enjoy them.”
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
A Yesni Prays Initiative
Leave a Reply