Readings and Reflection for October 31 Monday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

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FIRST READING

“Complete my joy by being of the same mind.”

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians (Philippians 2: 1- 4)

Brethren: If there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 131:1.2.3

R/. Keep my soul in peace at your side, O Lord.

O Lord, my heart is not proud,

nor haughty my eyes.

I have not gone after things too great,

nor marvels beyond me. R/.

Truly, I have set my soul

in tranquillity and silence.

As a weaned child on its mother,

as a weaned child is my soul within me. R/.

R/. Keep my soul in peace at your side, O Lord.

O Israel, wait for the Lord,

both now and forever. R/.

ALLELUIA John 8:31b-32

Alleluia. If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, says the Lord. Alleluia.

GOSPEL

Do not invite your friends, but the poor and the maimed.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 14:12-14)

At that time: Jesus said to the ruler who belonged to the Pharisees, who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your kinsmen or rich neighbours, lest they also invite you in return, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

TODAY’S REFLECTION

Luke, the Evangelist of the poor, presents Jesus’ teaching on inclusiveness in our social life because God does not exclude anyone from the great banquet of his love. Of course here Jesus does not teach us to ignore and exclude our friends and relatives and rich neighbours from our celebrations. Far from it! The poor and rich alike are children of God. In Luke’s view of salvation there is not only a universality of salvation, but also a preferential option for the poor. It is in this context that St Paul’s address to the Philippians becomes meaningful: “Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others.

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