The Parable of the Great Banquet has much to speak to us today. It puts the emphasis on the 'now" of the Kingdom of God. It is not something to be obtained at the end of time but calls for an urgent, immediate and timely response to the invitation of the Lord. Those who refuse NOW will NEVER be able to share in the Kingdom.

Since we know that God has no favourites, He calls everyone and He expects His call to be heeded. He offers love and He invites all. If we stand outside His Kingdom/banquet, it is because we freely opt to do so. Given this free choice, how do we respond to His love and His invitation in the 'here and now"

If we choose not to respond then, we will not be accepted just like in the parable, the marginalized of the Jewish society who are contemporaries of Jesus will sit along with those from outside of Israel at the table of the Kingdom.

The response calls for an attitude of readiness accompanied with humility like that of Jesus who humbled Himself to be born as a man, suffered and died on the cross for us, as in the first reading. Meditation on this reading from the Philippians will help us enter into the spirit of the Incarnation which underlines the Salvation of the whole of humanity that we are truly grateful for.