Preferential option for the other

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today call for our living Christian virtues that will open a path for change in the way the disadvantaged and displaced are treated in the world.

Winter streets

The Letter to the Philippians appeals to us to be self emptying and adopt humility and concern for the other as Christ offers in example.

* [2:1–11] The admonition to likemindedness and unity (Phil 2:2–5) is based on the believers’ threefold experience with Christ, God’s love, and the Spirit. The appeal to humility (Phil 2:3) and to obedience (Phil 2:12) is rooted in christology, specifically in a statement about Christ Jesus (Phil 2:6–11) and his humbling of self and obedience to the point of death (Phil 2:8).

In the Gospel from Luke, Jesus urges those who hold banquets to invite people who will not be able to repay your hospitality.

* [14:7–14] The banquet scene found only in Luke provides the opportunity for these teachings of Jesus on humility and presents a setting to display Luke’s interest in Jesus’ attitude toward the rich and the poor (see notes on Lk 4:18; 6:20–26; 12:13–34).

Beth Samson comments that today’s readings call us to generosity and to be agents of God’s gratuitous love.

The generosity of God’s love has no bounds, and this boundlessness invites us to reflect where we are setting up boundaries to our generosity. Am I creating boundaries around my generosity? How am I being called to extend my generosity to those most in need? How can I move closer to being of God’s “same mind… same love”?

Don Schwager reminds us that generous giving doesn't impoverish, but it enriches the heart.

Generosity demands a measure of self-sacrifice. However, it doesn't impoverish, but rather enriches the soul of the giver. True generosity springs from a heart full of mercy and compassion. God has loved us first, and our love for him is a response of gratitude for the great mercy and kindness he has shown to each one of us. No one can outmatch God in his generous love and kindness towards us.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 14:12-14 shares a story that shows us what it might look like to live out Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel.

they invited their family and friends to the Catholic Charities soup kitchen in their city. They had arranged for all their guests to join them in preparing and serving hot lunches to the homeless and needy in the area. Rather than asking for anniversary gifts, they asked for coats, hats, and gloves for the people they would be feeding. “God has given everything to us, and we can never repay him,

Friar Jude Winkler positions the call of Paul to the Philippians to live a virtuous life as the introduction to the hymn in this letter that celebrates the self emptying of Christ. Jesus example of service is to those known in the Gospel of Luke as the anawim. Friar Jude nudges us to focus, in giving, on those who need rather than those who deserve help.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that our closest friends or life partner hold a mirror up to us, revealing our good side and our dark side and reminding us that we still haven’t really learned to love. He offers that’s what every healthy relationship does.

The dynamics for divine intimacy and human intimacy are the same. I believe one is a school for the other. Most start with human intimacy and move from there to divine intimacy. But some begin with the divine ambush, first learning how to be vulnerable before God, and then passing it on to others.

Fr Richard underlines the truth that the only people who change, who are transformed, are people who feel safe, who feel their dignity, and who feel loved.

References

(n.d.). Philippians 2:6-11 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved November 5, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/philippians/2
(n.d.). Luke chapter 14 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved November 5, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/14
(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved November 5, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved November 5, 2018, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
(2018, November 3). Meditations - The Word Among Us. Retrieved November 5, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/2018/11/05/
(2017, December 30). 2018 Daily Meditations - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved November 5, 2018, from https://cac.org/2018-daily-meditations/