When I look at the readings, I break them down into three categories: knowledge, response, and command.
Knowledge
In the first reading, St. Paul shares who God is. He is unchangeable. His ways are “irrevocable.” “Oh, the depths of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgements and how unsearchable his ways!” (Rom 11:33). Throughout the reading, the Apostle shows how mysterious are the ways of God. We cannot comprehend them because His ways are not our ways; His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). His mercy does not measure according to the deed because all have sinned, all are guilty. His mercy extends to all because that is Him. To the Jews, it would seem unreasonable that mercy would extend to the Gentiles alike. But Paul points out that all have been found disobedient. “For God delivered all to disobedience that he might have mercy upon all” (Rom 11:32). Good and truth exist because of Him, and Him alone.
Response
When we pivot to the Psalm, it echoes that knowledge mentioned above. When I truly recognize who God is, I can only have one response. It is the response of the psalmist: “Lord, in your great love answer me.” Behind these words, I hear, ‘Lord, I am not worthy, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. Lord, I cannot do this on my own. I need You if I am to amount to anything. Lord, Lord, Lord. I know who you are. You are love. I am not. Help me, save me. Now do with me as You will.’
Command
As we finish with the Gospel, it seems to tie up our readings with a bow. We started off our meditation knowing God, transitioned to crying out to God, and now we must listen to His voice.
Jesus leaves his listeners with a command. He tells them to invite people to a banquet who cannot repay the favor. The guest list must include the lame, the crippled, the blind, the poor and so forth. It is not the wealthy or friends or brothers or sisters. He asks us to invite the least into our homes.
But this saying is hard; who can accept it? It’s one of the Gospel passages that sticks out because it doesn’t seem to make sense. Why would I be inviting the outcasts of society into my home? And yet, when I recall another part of the Gospel, I recall it saying, “Whatever you did for the least of my brothers, you did it unto me” (Matt. 25:40-45). It is Christ whom I accept or reject when I encounter the least.
When I go back through the readings with an honest heart, I’ll see that I’m not much different from my brethren. We all have the same merciful Father. We all have been disobedient. And, we all cry out for love.
And in search of the least, I come to the conclusion that I myself am the least. I myself am desperate for love. But so often I refuse myself that love.
Will I let myself sit with my own heart? Will I let Him sit with me in it? And, will I invite the lonely child inside me to come into the home of my heart? Whatever you did for the least of my brethren, you did it unto me.
There Jesus waits;
Jesus waits —
In my heart.
