When I was teaching high school students, we would spend the first 5-10 minutes of class reading and discussing the Gospel that was proclaimed at the previous Sunday’s Masses. After our discussion, I would pose a question for my students’ reflection and ask them to write an answer in their copybooks. For today’s Gospel I asked them to talk about whether or not they would invite Jesus to come to their home for dinner? Many of the students did in fact indicate that they either did not want Jesus to come to dinner or that they would at least have to think about it after hearing this Gospel. Why would that be, you might ask? Well, Jesus did take Simon the Pharisee to task while He was at dinner with him, even though Simon had graciously invited Him for that purpose. Jesus’ behavior was reminiscent of that of Nathan, who was David’s personal prophet. Nathan called out David for committing adultery with Bathsheba and for murdering her husband Uriah. I wonder if David ever had any second thoughts about keeping a prophet of his very own after that happened? In any event, I do think that perhaps even if we would still not think twice about having Jesus over for dinner, it would be wise if we did a little, or a lot, of spiritual house cleaning before we did so. Jesus, like Nathan, will feel compelled to point out the ways in which our relationship with Him is not where it should be. He will not waste whatever precious time we give Him on anything else. Of course it is true that whatever He tells us is for our own good and for our salvation; it will probably be a bit uncomfortable when He makes us aware of our shortcomings. So what are we going to do? Are we still going to invite Him into our homes and our hearts? Be aware that it will probably be a little bit messy while we are with Him. And then do it any way.
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