"When you have a party, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind." Jesus' simple advice triggers us to ask: who does that today? Because a party for the poor, crippled, lame and blind in our context is called "a soup kitchen". In a soup kitchen, one does not care to know the person receiving the ration. Also, one does not expect much socializing in a soup kitchen; neither is fellowship and merry-making expected to take place, unlike a party in the ordinary sense where people are expected to mingle, engage in conversation and make friends.

So what is the Lord really trying to tell us?

Simply, to consider that while we cannot possibly befriend every poor, crippled, lame or blind person, do we even attempt to befriend them? Do we see them as people we can patronise and lord over with our charity? Do we speak condescendingly to them because we know that they can never pay us back for what charity we supply them? Do we see this as an encounter with Jesus?

The party is not to bring them up to our social levels but to humble ourselves down to their level. Just as the Son of God condescends to come down from heaven to walk with disdained humanity, we will be imitating Christ if we can do the same to these, the least of our brothers and sisters in the Lord.