Gospel (Lk 14,15-24) - At that time, one of the guests, having heard this, said to Jesus: "Blessed is he who takes food in the kingdom of God!". He replied: «A man gave a large dinner and made many invitations. At dinner time, he sent his servant to tell the guests: "Come, he is ready." But everyone, one after another, began to apologize. The first said to him: “I have bought a field and I must go and see it; Please, forgive me". Another said: “I have bought five yoke of oxen and am going to try them; Please, forgive me". Another said, “I just got married so I can't come.” »When he returned, the servant reported all this to his master. Then the master of the house, angry, said to the servant: "Go out immediately into the squares and streets of the city and bring here the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame." The servant said, “Lord, it has been done as you ordered, but there is still room.” The master then said to the servant: “Go out into the streets and along the hedges and force them to come in, so that my house may be filled. For I tell you: none of those who were invited will taste my dinner."

The commentary on the Gospel by Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia

Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a great banquet, to which numerous guests have been invited. But these, when the servants go to call them, all refuse the invitation. Each of them has his own excuse: the first has bought a field and has to go and see it, the second has bought two yoke of oxen and has to try them, the last one even has to celebrate his wedding and it is obvious that he cannot go there. It is understood that behind the denials there is a clear decision on the part of the guests: the choice to give priority to their commitments rather than the invitation to participate in the banquet. Here is the central crux of the parable: the space that is given in life to the choice for the kingdom of God. The latter is the only truly crucial one for our existence: it is in fact the answer to the question of friendship, of familiarity, of intimacy that God addresses to men. Jesus, with this parable, recalls its priority. Yes, every man needs the friendship of God. The responsibility of those who must offer it to men is great - and I am thinking of the mission of the Church in the world -, but the responsibility of those who listen to the invitation is also decisive, so that they accept it . Those who are already full and full of themselves find it difficult to detach themselves from their things. But those who are poor, weak, desperate, more readily welcome the invitation of the servant (this time it is only one servant, namely Jesus) sent by the master to fill the room already ready for the banquet. The latter, truly in need of food and love, come running as soon as they hear the invitation. And the room fills with guests. Jesus had said: "Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God" (Lk 6:20).