Thursday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time Luke 15: 1-10 God does not write us off
Today’s Gospel gives us two of the most tender images of God’s love—the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to search for the one lost sheep, and the woman who sweeps her whole house until she finds her lost coin.
The Pharisees and scribes could not understand why Jesus welcomed tax collectors and sinners. To them, such people were unworthy, better forgotten than redeemed. But Jesus reveals a God who does not abandon, who does not wait passively for us to return, but who goes out in search of us. This is the heart of the Gospel: God is always looking for us, especially when we are lost.
Think of the shepherd. He knows each sheep by heart, and when one strays, he risks the dangers of the wilderness until he finds it. And when he does, he does not scold or punish—it is lifted tenderly onto his shoulders, carried home in joy. Think of the woman. For her, the coin is precious. Perhaps it is a day’s wage— and it matters deeply to her. She will not rest until it is found.
So it is with God and each of us. You are precious in His eyes. When we wander, God does not give up hope. When we fall into sin, He does not write us off. Instead, He searches, He calls, He waits with love. And when we are found, heaven itself rejoices.
This is the challenge for us, too. If heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents, how can we look at others with disdain? If God searches for the lost, then we, as His Church, must be people of mercy—welcoming, forgiving, and celebrating each person who returns to God’s embrace.
Today, let us hear this good news again: we are never forgotten. We are always sought. And in the heart of God, there is joy—joy for you, joy for me, joy for every soul that comes home.
5 November 2025 Wednesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time Or Optional Memorial of Zechariah and Elizabeth – Parents of John the Baptist Luke 14: 25-33 The cost of discipleship
Today, we celebrate Zechariah and Elizabeth, the parents of John the Baptist. Their lives remind us of patience, trust, and fidelity to God’s plan, even when it seemed impossible. Though they waited long in barrenness, they never stopped serving the Lord. In their old age, God blessed them with John, the great forerunner of Christ.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks to the crowds about the cost of discipleship. They followed him, thinking he was on the way to earthly power, but Jesus made it clear: to be his disciple is to walk the road to the cross. His words are stark—placing loyalty to him even above family ties and possessions. This is not a call to despise, but to love rightly: to put Christ first, so that every other love finds its proper place in him.
Zechariah and Elizabeth lived this truth. They surrendered their lives to God’s will, even when it asked for costly faith. Zechariah lost his voice until he could speak in trust again. Elizabeth bore the weight of long years of disappointment, yet she rejoiced when the Lord fulfilled his promise. Both learned that following God demands sacrifice, patience, and the willingness to let go of self for something greater.
Jesus tells us also to “count the cost.” Discipleship is not a passing enthusiasm; it requires endurance. Like building a tower or preparing for battle, it demands commitment. Yet the good news is this: Christ never asks us to carry the cross alone. The One who calls us also walks beside us, giving strength and joy along the way.
May Zechariah and Elizabeth intercede for us, that we too may remain steadfast in faith, counting the cost but never losing sight of the reward—the eternal banquet of God’s kingdom.
Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop Luke 14: 15-24 The banquet of the Kingdom
Today’s Gospel reminds us of God’s generous invitation to the banquet of His kingdom. The image of a feast is no accident. For the Jews, the Messianic banquet was a long-awaited hope. Yet, when the feast finally came in Jesus, many who were first invited turned away. Their excuses—land to inspect, oxen to test, family duties—sound very familiar. Even today, how often do we let business, new possessions, or even good things like family life crowd out the place of God in our lives?
The parable also reminds us of the wideness of God’s mercy. Those who were once considered outsiders—sinners, the poor, the broken, even the Gentiles—are invited in. God’s banquet table will not remain empty. His love keeps extending outward, until all are welcomed. That is the power of divine hospitality.
But notice this: the invitation is generous, but it is not to be taken lightly. To accept God’s call and then refuse when the time comes is a grave insult. The kingdom is not something to postpone until we have more time or until life feels easier. God calls us now.
And Jesus describes His kingdom in terms of a feast—full of joy, abundance, and celebration. Christianity is not meant to be gloomy or narrow. To live in Christ is to discover true joy, the kind that no wealth, success, or even human love alone can give.
So, today, let us hear again God’s invitation. Let us lay aside our excuses and take our place at His banquet with gratitude and joy. For in the Eucharist, the feast of the kingdom already begins—here, now, with us.
Monday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time Or Optional Memorial of Saint Martin de Porres, Religious Luke 14:12-14 God loves a joyful giver!
In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us a teaching that cuts straight to the heart: “When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you.” His words invite us to look deeply at the motives behind our generosity.
Very often, we give with mixed intentions. Some give out of duty, as if fulfilling a tax or paying a debt to God. Others give with the hope of gaining something in return—perhaps recognition, respect, or even a sense of spiritual “credit.” Still others give to feel superior, to stand above those in need, and in doing so wound the very dignity of the person they claim to help. Such giving is not love, but pride disguised as charity.
Jesus shows us a different way: true giving flows from love, not calculation. It does not seek reward, applause, or repayment. It mirrors the very heart of God, who gives freely and abundantly, “for God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.” Real generosity is the outpouring of a heart that cannot help but love.
The Rabbis once said: the highest form of giving is when neither the giver nor the receiver knows the other. This protects dignity and keeps love pure. Likewise, when we give as Jesus asks, quietly and freely, we share in God’s own way of loving.
Today, let us ask ourselves: why do I give? Do I give to be noticed, or do I give because Christ’s love compels me? May we learn to give as God gives—without counting the cost—so that our reward may be found not in this world, but in His Kingdom.Amen.
全属于祢 
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