15 PENTECOST, PROPER XVII - C- 16 LUKE 14. 1, 7-14
Of all the gospels, it is Luke who gives us more
meal-time scenes. Jesus eats with his friends. Jesus eats with tax-collectors
and sinners. Jesus eats with Pharisees and scribes.
In today’s gospel he has been invited to dinner at a
leader of the Pharisees seemingly as the honored guest. It is the Sabbath. The
motive, however, in inviting him was not to honor him but to try and trap him
into saying or doing something the religious leaders could use against him at a
later date. Thus Luke says, they watched him closely.
Our gospel reading begins with the first verse of
the fourteenth chapter which sets the scene for us, then skips to the seventh
verse where Jesus delivers two parables; one that deals with humility and the
other charity. What is missing in between is the healing that Jesus performs on
the Sabbath at the very beginning of the dinner party. It follows his question
to the scribes and Pharisees who were present whether or not it is lawful to
heal on the Sabbath. However, they remained silent.
Following the healing, Jesus presents two teachings.
The first is a lesson on humility. On the surface it would appear to be simply
a lesson on social advice or practical wisdom. If you want to avoid
embarrassment in front of your fellow guests, then, don’t automatically sit
down in the place of honor. You just might be asked to move.
I almost had this happen to me once at a wedding
reception. Over the years, I have been seated at the head table on more than
one occasion in order to offer a prayer before the meal and a blessing afterwards.
In this one case I automatically went to the head table and began looking for
my seat. Name plates were in place. But I did not find mine.
Then, the mother of the bride came up to me and
quietly informed me that my place was at a different table. Somewhat being
embarrassed, I smiled and quickly retreated to my assigned seat. It happens.
Needless to say I was humbled by it and afterwards never made the mistake of
assuming where I was to be seated but instead would always ask the host first.
But Jesus did not come to offer good advice. His
message was pointed towards those people in his day that were jockeying for
position in the eyes of God, namely the scribes and Pharisees. They were eager
to push themselves forward, to show how well they were keeping the law, to
maintain their own purity.
The parable, then, is not so much about giving good
advice for social occasions, but is found in the warning against pushing
oneself forward in the sight of God. Not much has changed today. There are
those who are eager to maintain their own place at the head table. They are so
focused on that one thing they are incapable of grasping God’s great design of
inviting all.
It has to do primarily with pride. Pride is the
number one deadly sin because, among other things, like a dark cloud, it blots
out God’s generosity. The enemy uses it to convince us that we deserve God’s
grace, love and mercy, and that, at least in our eyes, there are others out
there who do not deserve it. In the worst case scenario the enemy convinces us
that we don’t need it at all.
Jesus, however, spent his entire earthly ministry
trying to break through that cloud and bring God’s love to all. Christ’ parable
dismisses the so-called honors and status of the world and calls everyone to
the same meal, into the same place, into the presence of God, into the kingdom
of God. In Christ the playing field is leveled. In the eyes of God each of us
is of much worth.
Jesus concludes today’s reading with a second
lesson; one of charity.
The object being “to give” and not “to get.” Sadly
there is today not a little so-called charitable work the motive of which is at
the very least mixed, and it get its reward, but not from God.
The charity Christ speaks of, is not meant to be
rewarded in this life, but in the life to come. “To do good, and to distribute,
forget not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” (Heb. Xiii.16)
In Christ, all Christians are called to depend on
God’s love, and with the same generosity share it with those in need. We do so
without regard to earthly rewards. God will see to all of that in His own time.
The motive again, is “to give,” and not “to get.”
The lesson from Hebrews reminds us that the community of faith, the Church, is
in the hospitality business. Charity is a virtue that reflects the Love of God.
As God has invited us, so we are to invite others in His name.
In Christ we are all called to the same table, the
altar of God. Here we kneel, rich and poor alike, young and old together,
humbled by God’s presence. There are no distinctions. All share the same
sacramental food, the Body of Christ. All drink from the same cup, the Blood of
Christ. We kneel in all humility and stretch out our hands through the veil
that separates heaven from earth, to receive the Bread of Life and to drink of
the Cup of Salvation.
Because of Him who died and rose again we come to
God’s altar in confidence to partake of the heavenly food. Our confidence in
receiving these holy gifts is not our human pride in our own worthiness. It is,
rather, the confident humility of the faithful. For we know that the Eucharist
is but a foretaste of the heavenly banquet we hope, by God’s grace, to one day
enjoy with all the saints in the fullness of God’s kingdom.
We are the Body of Christ here on earth, whose hands
and hearts are strengthened through the grace of the sacrament to reach out in
deeds of love and mercy. And our confident humility draws us into the promise
that through Christ we will know God and His Love, and that through us, the
world will know Him and the Love He has for all. Therefore let us keep the
feast. AMEN+
