31 Oct Saturday, Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time - Year 1

Reading 1
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 themwhen 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.

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 embarrassmentto 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.”

Meditation: Romans 11:1-2, 11-12,25-29

The gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. (Romans 11:29)

St. Paul grieved deeply that many of his fellow Jews had not accepted the gospel message. Earlier in his letter to the Romans, Paul expressed “great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart” for the Jewish people, and even went so far as to say that he himself would willingly separate himself from Christ if only they would believe (9:2-3).

However, in today’s passage from Romans, it’s clear that Paul has not given up hope. He believes that the salvation experienced by the Gentiles will cause the Jewish people to desire Christ. And, he says, although they have not yet believed in Christ, they are still “beloved” by God (Romans 11:28). “God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew” (11:2).

We all know family members and loved ones who do not know Christ, and like Paul, we also grieve for them. We want them to experience the awesome love and mercy that God has showered on us, as well as the freedom to live an abundant and fruitful life. Like Paul, we also know that we can’t force anyone to believe. All we can do is pray that their hearts will someday be open and willing to receive all that God has for them.

In the meantime, we can also have hope. Just as it was for the Jewish people, so it is for all of us: God’s gifts and call are irrevocable. He will never withdraw them; it would be against his nature to do so. He has not rejected anyone, even those who don’t yet know him. In fact, his greatest desire is to have all of us close to his heart every moment of every day.

So let’s continue praying for our loved ones and for all who are far from the Lord. Let’s pray that God’s light will shine in their lives. Let’s also pray for ourselves and other Christians who are sent into the world to preach the gospel so that others may hear it. As Paul says, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:15).

“Jesus, you call everyone to yourself, even those who don’t yet know you. Open their hearts to your grace. Give us the boldness and courage to share all that you have done in our own lives with them.”