Saturday, June 18, 2005
LUKE 14:1, 7-11
On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table. "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, `Give your place to this man,' and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, `My friend, move up to a higher position.' Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
HOMILY
In today's Gospel, Jesus gives instructions on how to make a good impression on people. It sounds a little like Dale Carnegie's How to make friends and influence people! Jesus chooses concrete situations, understood well by those he was addressing, and uses them as sort of metaphors to teach us about the Kingdom of God.
Jesus' message in this gospel is that there's no room for pride, for self-glorification in God's Kingdom. Here he's making a profoundly spiritual point. It's the same point he's made over and over again throughout his public life. He who is the greatest among you, is servant of all. Service is the hallmark of my disciple. You must wash one another's feet.
We all welcome honors, we all gobble up praise. Desire for recognition is a powerful stimulus that can push aside Christ-like motivation, that can urge upon us a type of behavior that is hardly in accord with Christ's values.
We would think this is the vulnerable point in the armor of a Christian politician. Is this individual's strongest motivation the service of his country and his constituents or is it the need for approval, the desire to win reelection or to hold on to power? Is this individual a person of principle?
One scholar ends his commentary on today's gospel speaking of humility as the most difficult of all commandments. So difficult is it that even Christians have to see an exultation offered as a reward: "Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
PRAYER
"Lord Jesus, you became a servant for my sake to set me free from the tyranny of selfishness, fear, and conceit. Help me to be humble as you are humble and to love freely and graciously all whom you call me to serve."
HOMILY
In today's Gospel, Jesus gives instructions on how to make a good impression on people. It sounds a little like Dale Carnegie's How to make friends and influence people! Jesus chooses concrete situations, understood well by those he was addressing, and uses them as sort of metaphors to teach us about the Kingdom of God.
Jesus' message in this gospel is that there's no room for pride, for self-glorification in God's Kingdom. Here he's making a profoundly spiritual point. It's the same point he's made over and over again throughout his public life. He who is the greatest among you, is servant of all. Service is the hallmark of my disciple. You must wash one another's feet.
We all welcome honors, we all gobble up praise. Desire for recognition is a powerful stimulus that can push aside Christ-like motivation, that can urge upon us a type of behavior that is hardly in accord with Christ's values.
We would think this is the vulnerable point in the armor of a Christian politician. Is this individual's strongest motivation the service of his country and his constituents or is it the need for approval, the desire to win reelection or to hold on to power? Is this individual a person of principle?
One scholar ends his commentary on today's gospel speaking of humility as the most difficult of all commandments. So difficult is it that even Christians have to see an exultation offered as a reward: "Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
PRAYER
"Lord Jesus, you became a servant for my sake to set me free from the tyranny of selfishness, fear, and conceit. Help me to be humble as you are humble and to love freely and graciously all whom you call me to serve."
# posted by F O O D F O R T H O U G H T @ 4:19 PM 
