Luke 14:1, 7-14
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
Once again the theme of humility cries out of these verses of Scripture. This passage make me wonder if the leader of the Pharisees was watching Jesus to see if he would be humble in the presence of the religious leaders (assuming that the religious leaders were the "they" of the first verse). Did "they" expect respect? I don't know.
Jesus gave a message based on his observance of how the guests chose their position at the assembly, and he made a comment. But, if Jesus were going to the house of the leader of the Pharisees, wasn't he also a guest? It seems to me if Jesus were a guest, his comment about the seating was inappropriate. Why did Jesus have the authority to speak about the seating arrangement if he too was a guest? Was Jesus himself humble in this situation? Was Jesus' conversation off to the side with a few people? I'm not sure, but it was an honest observation none the less.
Who was invited to this meal on the Sabbath? It seems rude to comment in a story about the type of people that are invited to the meal if you are a guest also. Sometimes Jesus perplexes me.
This passage takes place after the synagogue service on the sabbath. Jesus made use of the situation to teach. Prior to verses 7-14, Jesus had asked the lawyers and Pharisees if it was lawful to cure people on the sabbath. Then Jesus healed a man with dropsy which is a condition of severe fluid retention. Jesus was in the midst of an ongoing debate with the lawyers and Pharisees about sabbath actions. Jesus' question was a question about Jewish law and the interpretation of Jewish law. Jesus was not only being watched by the lawyers and the Pharisee, he was being watched by all of the guests. Jesus was being watched with a suspicious eye towards being a radical. So, this explains why Jesus was under careful observance during the meal. Jesus each word was being carefully scrutinized for error. What an opportunity to teach! And Jesus took advantage of this opportunity.
The teaching Jesus decided to use was through a parable. A story with a religious or a spiritual point to it. The marriage feast was typically known as a reference or a symbol for the kingdom of God and that joyful eternity in heaven. For the most part the most important people arrive last. These people are typically given seats of honor. It's like this today also. So, if you sat in the seat of the boss or whomever was most important, you would likely be booted from your seat. The only remaining seats would be the poorest seats in the house since all of the other seats were taken. How embarrassing! Wouldn't it be better to sit in the back, like most of us do in church anyway, and be invited forward? Sometimes I wonder if this is what people are thinking, but I don't think that is the case for the most part.
I still wonder about how Jesus chose to present this parable. Who invited Jesus to speak? In any way, Jesus took advantage of the previous controversy and spoke. Is this a call to action for me to speak my faith in unusual circumstances? Maybe so, but I would definitely need the Spirit to lead and guide me!
So, what about the comment about the guests? Jesus was trying to make the point that our actions to do good should be to do good to those who cannot give anything in return. This is how Jesus acts in his very own life and death.
Jesus lives his parables in the flesh. Jesus gives us an example of humility and giving. Jesus is humble and giving. Jesus humbles himself in flesh and gave his life for the sake of all the world. Jesus came and lived and died in order that we may live in eternity with God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit and all the redeemed. This is the example of the parable about humility and love for another. We are to love not out of a sense of reward, but out of a sense of duty and honor to what God has done for us. You and I are the least that Jesus speaks of in this parable. You and I are the ones that Jesus has invited forward at the great wedding feast. We can do nothing to deserve this invitation. We can only respond to the invitation and to the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.
Yes, Jesus spoke up at the perfect time. Jesus was not rude, after all. Jesus was bringing a message to all of the people at that place to save them from their own selfish sins and teach them an attitude of love, humility and grace. Jesus was saving these very people... if only they listen... if only they heed the point of the parable... if only they believe in what God is doing for them in their presence at that very moment.
And the parable speaks on throughout all time. Will we hear the story? Will we seek humility and serve the least? Will we recognize our place at the wedding feast and give our seat to another? Will we be invited forward for our compassion and love that we show because of Jesus passion and love? Will we speak up boldly in situations to defend the weak, the poor, the sick and the needy?
Come forward for the feast. Come forward and take the bread and the wine, take the body and blood of Jesus and let Jesus live life in you now and forever. Believe in the message and the story. Believe in Jesus! Jesus makes all the difference.
Prayer
Jesus, come into my life today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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