Daily Mass Gospel Reflection- Workin' for The Lord

Word on Fire Ministry ^ | 11.7.23 | Bishop Robert Barron

[MurphsLaw]

Luke 14:15-24
Friends, in today’s Gospel,
Jesus tells the parable of a man giving a great dinner.
His sending out of servants to gather those invited
parallels our call to be evangelizers.

The risen Lord calls the Apostles and us to go forth
and to do the work of gathering in:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations”—
that is, draw them into the very dynamics of the divine life.

Hans Urs von Balthasar has noticed that,
in the biblical context,
mission and identity are tightly bound together.
The heroes of Scripture don’t really know who they are
until they have received a commission from God.
Thus Saul of Tarsus, when he is radically reoriented as the Apostle to the Gentiles,
is given the name “Paul.”
Being sent, he knows who he is.
Paul is not pursuing his own happiness;
rather, he is like a letter, written and posted by another.
Announcing the risen Jesus is the beginning, middle,
and end of Paul’s life, his raison d’etre,
his morning refreshment and evening rest.
Like his great biblical forebears and like his descendants in the Christian tradition,
Paul is a messenger.
Nothing more or less.

[MurphsLaw]

+++One of those at table with
Jesus said to him,
"Blessed is the one who will
dine in the Kingdom of God."
He replied to him,
"A man gave a great dinner to
which he invited many.
When the time for the dinner came,
he dispatched his servant to say
to those invited,
'Come, everything is now ready.'
But one by one, they all began
to excuse themselves.
The first said to him,
'I have purchased a field
and must go to examine it;
I ask you, consider me excused.'
And another said,
'I have purchased five yoke of oxen
and am on my way to evaluate them;
I ask you, consider me excused.'
And another said,
'I have just married a woman,
and therefore I cannot come.'
The servant went and reported
this to his master.
Then the master of the house in
a rage commanded his servant,
'Go out quickly into the streets
and alleys of the town
and bring in here the poor and
the crippled, the blind and the lame.'
The servant reported,
'Sir, your orders have been carried out
and still there is room.'
The master then ordered the servant,
'Go out to the highways and hedgerows
and make people come in
that my home may be filled.
For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited
will taste my dinner.'"+++

[imardmd1]

Totally agree. Just to go to a stained-glass church house every so often, sing preprogrammed songs, repeat somebody's prayer words, and sit still to hear a talking heard perorate, does not make one factually a "Christian" with a heavenly destination, does it?

[MurphsLaw]

Totally agree.
... does not make one factually a "Christian"
with a heavenly destination, does it?

Lacking in specificity,
Not sure with what you are "agreeing" with here..

The post was more to do with God giving people mission...

But not one to deny a segue,
it seems you have some angst toward the Church structure,
and the New Covenantal Tabernacle.
You are falsely connecting "making" one a Christian,
with "Church attendance"- or at least you are parroting someone
else who promotes that false ideal.

But those liturgies and continuous worship you seem to be to be disposing of-
if I am understanding you -
in accordance with the desire that it is there
that the pillar and foundation of the Truth are to be found-
are most critical to a Christian in keeping Christ central in their life
in a daily, weekly practical application to grow in faith and strength-
participating in the Sacrifice on the Cross.
But there is no "Heavenly" guarantee as you are inferring, yes.

The question is then begged...

How do YOU, Worship God in Your life?

[imardmd1]

Were you missing that What I wrote is that merely “going to church” does not make one truly a Christian? More could be said, but that assertion stands, without arguing RC vs Prod.

[imardmd1]

>> How do YOU, Worship God in Your life? <<

Worship requires sacrifice.

I am His possession for ever, purchased by His Blood, the transaction promised, justified, and ratified by His Father.

[MurphsLaw]

I am His possession for ever, purchased by His Blood,
the transaction promised, justified, and ratified by His Father.

Yes, praise God for life... we totally agree- absolutely.
But keep in mind- those are things God has done to/for US.
I am asking then, how do you praise and Worship God for all of this that has been done on OUR behalf?

It's not a trick question- just addressing your reply of eschewing the "stain-glassed" Church structure prompts the question for me.

As you know it is in that stained glass building when I can drop to my knees in gratitude, worship and adoration for God-
participating in what has been revealed for us.
Liturgies may not always be perfect-
but how does one go about Worship to this awesome God then ?

I don't see how right Praise and Worship is accomplished then.