Jesus’ words in this Sunday’s Gospel are a reminder to us that, whatever our status and circumstance, we are not overlooked by God, even if God’s way of noticing us is to give us a wake-up call, writes Christian Brother Julian McDonald.

The World Day of Prayer, to be held on Friday, March 1 is being hosted by Slovenia this year, with the theme, ‘Come – Everything is ready’, from Luke 14:15-24. 

The stories in this Sunday’s readings serve to highlight how every person’s faith journey is unique. God’s Spirit touches us in the particular circumstances of our particular lives, writes Christian Brother Julian McDonald.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus took the risk of telling his own townspeople a few home truths, and they resented it, writes Christian Brother Julian McDonald. Are we able to apply to ourselves the underlying message of what he dared to point out to the people of Nazareth? Can we see God’s love reflected in our encounters with the other very ordinary people with whom we rub shoulders each day? Are we able to imagine that those we regard as “unchurched” might have something to teach us, something to soften our hardness and even melt away our prejudices?

This week’s Gospel reminds us that we are called to speak the truth in support of strangers, refugees and those treated unjustly, to do so with credibility, love and generosity, but without compromise, writes Christian Brother Julian McDonald.