August 29th - Reflection

Time after Pentecost - Lectionary 22
Luke 14:1, 7-14 (NRSV)
Invite the poor to your banquet

On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. ...

When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, 'Give this person your place,' and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher'; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

He said also to the one who had invited him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

Reflection
At first glance I was thinking that these were two different lessons for life, but on second glance I think not. I heard a message the other day that brought forth the theme "Get over yourself" and this passage of scripture seems to fit perfectly into that theme.

Jesus is teaching us to humble ourselves and reach out to the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. Jesus is teaching us to "Get over ourselves" and our desire to impress family and rich neighbors and friends and do as he did and move and work amongst those in need. After all, aren't we all really in need?

So "Get over yourself" and follow the Savior! Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, thank you for your Word written and spoken through friends. --- Amen