In today's Gospel, a wealthy Pharisee invites Jesus to dinner. This is unusual because Pharisees typically dined only with those who shared their views. During the meal, Jesus suggests that His host should often invite people he wouldn't ordinarily welcome—those who are outsiders or who are experiencing illness, hunger, and poverty.

Unlike the Pharisees, who limited their social circles, Jesus regularly shared meals with a diverse array of people, including the rich and the poor, the educated and the uneducated, the devout and the outsiders, as well as men and women. His choice of dining companions reflects His inclusive nature; no one was excluded from His presence or from His mission of preaching the kingdom of God. Jesus aimed to reveal God's generous welcome for everyone, especially those who were marginalized.

Through His authentic lifestyle and the company He kept, Jesus demonstrated the wide hospitality of His Father. In contrast, the Pharisees viewed God as exclusive rather than inclusive.

Let us pray that we will follow Jesus' example and welcome those who may be considered outsiders and those in need, so that we may share our knowledge of and faith in God with others.