Dear Preachers:

Just a reminder: Our preaching webpage not only has other English reflections on the Sunday scriptures, but there are also resources in Spanish.

Jesus has been shocking his critics by healing on the Sabbath. Today he is invited to dine at the house of a leading Pharisee. But this is no friendly gathering. It is a trap.

After the meal, Jesus tells a parable that goes to the heart of his message: "For everyone who exalts self will be humbled, and the one who humbles self will be exalted." Scholars call this the "messianic inversion." In God’s reign, the despised and the least come first. Those who were marginalized and labeled as "sinners"—supposedly being punished by God—are the very ones who receive God’s favor.

Jesus challenges us to imitate God’s generosity. We are to invite those who cannot repay us, just as God has invited us to this banquet, the Eucharist. Here, at this table, we are not guests because we earned it. God expects no payment. We are here because of pure grace, the free gift of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection.

Gratitude calls us to act. Like Jesus’ parable urges, we are to welcome the downcast, the outsider, and feed them what they most need—welcome, nourishment, education, protection. Does this not speak directly to the plight of unwanted immigrants among us—men, women, and children hiding in fear of arrest or deportation, some even confined in harsh detention centers, like Alligator Alcatraz? How can we, disciples of Christ, make them feel honored as guests in God’s house?

Admittedly, inviting Jesus into our homes would not be easy. In today’s gospel he barely sits down before correcting the guests, who are jockeying for places of honor. Then he challenges the host, telling him who not to invite, and who should be at his table. His words break all the rules of etiquette. But Jesus is not giving a lesson in manners; he is describing the way of life for his disciples, the conduct that reflects God’s reign.

The Letter to the Hebrews reminds us today: Jesus has mediated a new covenant. We are not governed by the standards of this world, but by the life he makes possible. Of course, in school we should strive for good grades, and in our work we aim to do well. That is not what Jesus is warning against. His concern is deeper: the motivation and values that guide our lives.

We use our gifts not for our own glory but for the well-being of others. We go beyond the minimum in our studies, our work, and our ministries, not to gain privilege, but to serve. We reach out to those Jesus names—"the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind." They cannot repay us, but Jesus promises: "You will be blessed indeed."

So today’s gospel leaves no doubt: God alone will exalt those who live with the humility Jesus describes. That does not mean we should never invite friends to dinner. Of course we can—and should—share meals that deepen our friendships and build community. But Jesus warns us not to reduce hospitality to self-interest, not to invite only those who can repay the favor.

We must never forget the poor, the hungry, the outsider, those discarded by society. They need our voice, our presence, our advocacy. When we welcome them, we do not seek recognition or reward. We leave the recompense in God’s hands.

And so we turn to the table before us now. At this Eucharist we are not the hosts—Jesus is. He has invited us out of love, not because he seeks something from us. He offers us food and drink chosen by him: bread and wine, signs of his total self-giving. Jesus is preparing us for a banquet where those in most need will receive honors and fulfillment. Since that will be the case, we ought to do some "kingdom practicing" now: act in ways that will reflect the kingdom in which we are already citizens— treat the poor as honored guests in our lives.

Here, social, economic, or political distinctions vanish. We share together the living presence of the risen Christ. We are drawn closer to him and to one another.

It is humbling to share this extravagant meal. We could never repay him. And yet, he continues to embrace us with unceasing love.

Dear God, we thank you for the bountiful blessings you have bestowed on us.

Guide us in being good stewards of these gifts.

Let us care for all of your beautiful creation, from the redwood forests to the gulf stream waters.

Make us instruments of your peace in order to put an end to rockets’ red glare and the bombs bursting in air.

Help us to love and care for all of our neighbors

– locally and globally – so that we might

be truly crowned with brotherhood [sisterhood] from sea to shining sea.

Amen.

—Franciscan Mission Service

Psalm 68:7

God is very concerned about God’s children who end up in prison. As Jesus begins his public life, he quotes from Isaiah 61:1, which records that the Spirit of God had anointed his servant "to proclaim liberty to the captives" and it is a recurring theme almost to the end of his ministry as we read in Matthew 25:36 "in prison and you visited me." This concern does not end with Jesus’ death because in the Letter to the Hebrews 13:3, we are reminded to "continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." Prisoners were seen as "the least" among those in society and how we treat the marginalized and powerless is what matters to God.

Biblical stories illustrate an age-old problem: Not everyone imprisoned is guilty of genuine wrongdoing. Look at Jesus. Not only was he, an innocent man, imprisoned unjustly, but he died in a state-sanctioned death penalty. However, I digress. Of course, not everyone in prison is innocent of the crime to which they were convicted, but as prisons and imprisonment are consistent themes throughout the Bible, concern about prisoners through a parish prison ministry ought to run more powerfully throughout churches.

This brings me to the reason I am writing today. When we imprison immigrants, whose only fault is being an immigrant, we have to be concerned. As I stated previously, how we treat the marginalized and powerless is what matters to God.

Pope Leo said recently: "In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference. . .For our part, we want to be a small leaven of unity, communion and fraternity within the world" (Network, Third Quarter 2025). It is essential that we maintain "principled and persistent engagement with those who share common values" states Giovana Oaxaca, Senior Government Relations Advocate on Immigration for Network. As she further reflects, "When we show up for others, we forge bonds of our collective liberation."

Prisoners do not lose their human dignity just because they are prisoners and we must speak out when we see injustice and work to improve both our prison and immigration systems.

To join Prison Ministry, contact Sandy Peace and to join Justice for Immigrants, contact Luisa Martin-Price at socialconcern@hnojnc.org

Barbara Molinari Quinby, MPS, Director

Office of Human Life, Dignity, and Justice Ministries

Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral, Raleigh, NC

"Rather, when you hold a banquet,

invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,

blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.

For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

Jesus is preparing us for a banquet where those in most need will receive honors and fulfillment. Since that will be the case, we ought to do some "kingdom practicing" now: act in ways that will reflect the kingdom in which we are already citizens— treat the poor as honored guests in our lives.

• Have you ever had a surprise party? What did it feel like to be surprised and honored?

• To whom can you extend the "surprise" of special and honored treatment?

"One has to strongly affirm that condemnation to the death penalty is an inhuman measure that humiliates personal dignity, in whatever form it is carried out."
---Pope Francis

Inmates on death row are the most forgotten people in the prison system. Each week I am posting in this space several inmates’ names and locations. I invite you to write a postcard to one or more of them to let them know that: we have not forgotten them; are praying for them and their families; or, whatever personal encouragement you might like to give them. If the inmate responds, you might consider becoming pen pals.

Please write to:

----Central Prison P.O. 247 Phoenix, MD 21131

Please note: Central Prison is in Raleigh, NC., but for security purposes, mail to inmates is processed through a clearing house at the above address in Maryland.

If you would like to support this ministry, please send tax deductible contributions to Fr. Jude Siciliano, OP.

St. Albert Priory
3150 Vince Hagan Drive
Irving, Texas 75062-4736

Make checks payable to: Dominican Friars.

RESOURCES

We have compiled Four CDs for sale:

• Individual CDs for each Liturgical Year, A, B or C

• One combined CD for "Liturgical Years A, B and C.

If you are a preacher, lead a Lectionary-based scripture group, or are a member of a liturgical team, these CDs will be helpful in your preparation process. Individual worshipers report they also use these reflections as they prepare for Sunday liturgy.

You can order the CDs by going to our webpage:  https://www.PreacherExchange.com and clicking on the "First Impressions" CD link on the left.

OTHER PUBLICATIONS BY EMAIL:

1. "HOMILÍAS DOMINICALES" ---These Spanish reflections on the Sunday and daily scriptures are written by Dominican sisters and friars. If you or a friend would like to receive these reflections,  CLICK HERE.

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