Homily for November 7, 2019

Again, today, in our Gospel reading, we encounter the tenacious propensity of the Scribes and Pharisees to exclude those whom they see as imperfect and to criticize Jesus for eating with them and spending time with them.

But Jesus, using parables, tells His critics that His focus (and theirs) should be on exactly the people with whom He is eating. Elsewhere, He reminds them that it is not for the righteous that He has come but to save the lost and forsaken. To do this, He must meet them on their level and not wait for them to redeem themselves. This means that Jesus will eat with them, speak with them, spend time with them, and love them.

We, too, are called to seek out the lost and forsaken, to serve those who are in need: the sick, the oppressed, the poor, and, yes, even the sinner.

May our lives be an example of the true teaching of Jesus as we seek to be His voice, His hands, His feet, and His instruments in our world. +