Rejected?

 Rom 11:1-2a, 11-12, 25-29

Brothers and sisters:

I ask, then, has God rejected his people?
Of course not!
For I too am a child of Israel, a descendant of Abraham,
of the tribe of Benjamin.
God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.
Do you not know what the Scripture says about Elijah,
how he pleads with God against Israel?

Hence I ask, did they stumble so as to fall?
Of course not!
But through their transgression
salvation has come to the Gentiles,
so as to make them jealous.
Now if their transgression is enrichment for the world,
and if their diminished number is enrichment for the Gentiles,
how much more their full number.

I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers and sisters,
so that you will not become wise in your own estimation:
a hardening has come upon Israel in part,
until the full number of the Gentiles comes in,
and thus all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

The deliverer will come out of Zion,
he will turn away godlessness from Jacob;
and this is my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.

In respect to the Gospel, they are enemies on your account;
but in respect to election,
they are beloved because of the patriarch.
For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.

I read lines like these and think, "Silly Jews too bad they don't understand God and Jesus", but then I look at my own house. I have to be honest too many times I have heard people I love, even myself, in my own church look down on others as if they didn't belong in God's house. God please forgive me. I was foolish and stupid. We all belong in God's house because God loves us all.

Gospel Lk 14:1, 7-11

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine
at the home of one of the leading Pharisees,
and the people there were observing him carefully.

He told a parable to those who had been invited,

noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table.
"When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet,
do not recline at table in the place of honor.
A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him,
and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say,
'Give your place to this man,'
and then you would proceed with embarrassment
to take the lowest place.
Rather, when you are invited,
go and take the lowest place
so that when the host comes to you he may say,
'My friend, move up to a higher position.'
Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table.
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

I am so glad that I was not there the day Jesus spoke these words cause I would have probably been one of those taking a good seat at the table. I mean I can read it and laugh a bit. Here people are sitting down to eat, taking the places of honor, all the while Jesus the son of God is standing there. How often I have been blind to those more deserving around me, many times. When I read lines like this spoken by Jesus I don't hear him hollering and condemning in a strict tone. I hear Jesus speaking in a calm compassionate tone with maybe a bit of a smile on his face. After all this was the man that was tortured to death and still had the wherewithal to say, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do".

Jesus,

I love you so much and I thank you for having patience with me. Thank you for sharing you wisdom and teachings with me. Thank you for helping me see my stupidity so that I can repent and move forward loving the way you want me to. Oh, and for all those times I didn't get the point, I am sorry. Help me to see those around me that are in pain. Enlighten me to love them the way you would. Help me to invite all to your table and to sit next to you for everyone deserves to feel your love.

In Jesus Christ's name I pray,

Amen