God Desires Repentance

Homily for Thursday of the Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time

One theme that reappears time and again in St. Luke’s Gospel is that of table fellowship or table communion. Jesus is found to be eating in this particular Gospel more than in the others. However, it is not the act of eating that is of importance; rather the importance lies in the people with whom Jesus is eating.

Today’s Gospel text begins with the observation that the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to Jesus. When the Pharisees observed this, they level a criticism at Jesus’ behavior. What follows is three different parables, all with the same moral; namely, God desires the repentance of sinners and does not withdraw from the repentant. Interestingly, Saint Luke makes the pointed comment that these parables were addressed to the Pharisees and scribes.

In human history, eating together has signified and reinforced spiritual ties and closeness. Sadly, because of the hectic pace of our modern-day culture, family dinners are becoming more and more rare. Jesus’ answer to the complaint or criticism of the Pharisees and scribes is his contention that he and they are one. Each time that Jesus sits down to eat with others, the Gospel speaks of the solidarity of Jesus with all human beings, not only with those who think themselves to be good people.

Once more, we are reminded that we are all sinners; we have no reason to feel so separate from those who easily appear to us to be unsavory or lost. There are or will be people in our lives or families who seem not only lost but resistant to any well-meaning overtures. Mildly and persistently, we need to keep up our contact with them, all the while hoping to stay close to God’s action in their lives through our own prayer for them.