December 15, 2019 - “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many”

December 15, 2019

“A certain man gave a great supper and invited many”

With His Incarnation, Christ invites us to become participants in His philanthropy. He “who does not have a place to lay His head”, comes to give strength to the weary and power to the weak (Isaiah 40:29). “The Lord has sent redemption to His people.” Christ comes as the Savior  and Redeemer to a world that is vanishing and is falling apart; where the meaning of society (koinonia) is no longer related to  a person’s integration into a community of love; where life is consumed by a daily lifestyle that has no meaning other than the brutish struggle for survival and the absurd possession of senseless items; where Man fights in despair to battle illnesses and the fear of death. The Lord comes and He tells us to love God with all our heart, to heal the illnesses that separate us from Him, to carry each other’s burdens, and, in this way, to proclaim the Kingdom of God. Yet, He knows well that we are not able to do this by ourselves. He thus asks us to let Him reside in the manger of our poor hearts so that He can do this through us; that we may be a humble expression of the love of the Father and fervent bearers of the Holy Spirit.  

The question is whether we really want to change our world and the way we live; if we are willing to allow the Savior and Redeemer of this world to intervene in our life and to pastor to us, according to His will, so that we can be saved; if we are willing to become participants in His philanthropy – to love Him as He loves us. Could it be that the ruckus of the daily life that we have created and that surrounds us suites us, acting as a buffer so that we will not see the tragic reality our lifestyle? Could it be that we try to ease our conscience with periodic “philanthropic” activities rather than being fully dedicated companions to human pain within a fellowship – community of love?

Christ is coming and He is inviting us to worship Him in the manger of our hearts saying: “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

How will we respond to this invitation?  

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