Gospel:
On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees. He said to the host who invited him, "When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.
Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;
blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." - Luke 14:12-14.
Reflection:
Just yesterday, my family were invited to a birthday celebration of my nephew and after such banquet we had some sincere discussions with my uncle. He somehow shed light into the overly used principle related to giving. Many people adheres to giving to charity because it will somehow return to you in much bigger amount or quantity. My uncle then asked a question; do you give because of the reward/ return that can surely benefit you? Or do you give out of love?
This simply opened up the idea of various motives in giving. We might see other people generously giving but have always expected something in return and for some who might be seen as a generous giver but in reality alms to that person's perspective.
I think the Gospel is simply telling us to be a generous giver and at the same time a generous lover. Giving without expecting any in return and giving even small amounts but with enormous love.
