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"At the worst, a house unkept cannot be so distressing as a life unlived." -- Rose Macaulay

Three of Luke's themes are present in this week's reading. The first is the spiritual journey each of us is called to. Jesus is continuing his journey from Galilee to Jerusalem and ministering to people on the way. On our journeys, we too are called to follow Jesus and help each other.

Another of Luke's themes is God's call to people of every race, class and language. Luke is a Gentile, the name given to anyone who was not a Jew. Most of the Old Testament is the history and faith experiences of the Jewish people who, through Abraham were to be God's chosen people. Yet in our first reading, Isaiah, an Old Testament prophet, says God calls everyone. Jesus tells us His desire is that all people learn to know Him, follow Him no matter what the cost, and live in peace and harmony with each other.

The banquet is the third of Luke's themes. Luke has over a dozen "meal stories" in his gospel. He is telling us if we choose to go on the spiritual journey we are called to, learn to know God's ways, which are not our ways, we may be invited to the banquet in the kingdom of God. We are not to be concerned about who will be there or not. If we live out the image of God that is in ourselves, God will recognize us when we knock at the door.