Luke 14:1-24
Dear RTB’ers,
But when you are invited, go and sit in 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 table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. (vv. 10-11) I love it when I can see myself in our readings. Years ago, when we lived in Texas we were worshiping at a church that had no building. (Sound familiar?) We met in a private Episcopal school, with use of the entire (small) facility. At one point our pastor and vestry decided that it would be a nice gesture to the school if we had a work day and did a “deep clean” of their facility. So on a given Saturday a large group showed up, and someone had prepared a sheet of paper with all the chores listed that we needed to do. My wife immediately went to the chores sheet and signed us up for the bathrooms! I was surprised; my face must have reflected that and she said to me, “If we take the bathrooms, it’ll be hard for others not to pick some easier chores.” She was right – we went to work, and it all got done. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Blessings!
Sometimes it’s difficult to gain new insight into a familiar story. Usually I think about the host of the banquet in today’s second parable (Luke 14:16-24) showing us God’s lavish acceptance of us in our weakness condition—like Jesus, who dined “with tax collectors and sinners.” After all, the Host sent his servants out several times and “compelled” people to come in. That’s a strong word and always stops me: why were they so reluctant? (But of course, the ones who were first invited flatly refused to come—too busy with their own lives! Hmmm.)
This time, however, it is the servants that caught my attention, maybe because we recently read that “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” When is the last time I went out and “compelled” a friend or acquaintance to come with me to church? Maybe I need to be a bit more insistent? More sure of the grace and goodness I am telling them about?
We are the servants in this picture of the banquet. May I find myself obeying the Host and compelling others to join in!