The Gospel for November 6, 2004
Luke 14:1-11
Now it happened that on a Sabbath day he had gone to share a meal in the house of one of the leading Pharisees; and they watched him closely. Now there in front of him was a man with dropsy, and Jesus addressed the lawyers and Pharisees with the words, ‘Is it against the law to cure someone on the Sabbath, or not?’ But they remained silent, so he took the man and cured him and sent him away. Then he said to them, ‘Which of you here, if his son falls into a well, or his ox, will not pull him out on a Sabbath day without any hesitation?’ And to this they could find no answer. He then told the guests a parable, because he had noticed how they picked the places of honour. He said this, ‘When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take your seat in the place of honour. A more distinguished person than you may have been invited, and the person who invited you both may come and say, “Give up your place to this man.” And then, to your embarrassment, you will have to go and take the lowest place. No; when you are a guest, make your way to the lowest place and sit there, so that, when your host comes, he may say, “My friend, move up higher.” Then, everyone with you at the table will see you honoured. For everyone who raises himself up will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be raised up.’ -- The New Jerusalem Bible. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1995, c1985
A Study
This is the third Sabbath healing, and all of them seem intended to show Jesus' power over illness and disease, as well as to show that his wisdom is greater than that of his opponents. He leaves them either speechless or embarassed whenever they try to trap him or prove that he has broken the Law.
His instructions to them, after observing their lack of humility as shown in the seating pattern, follows the command handed down by YHWH in Psalm 75, among other Hebrew Bible instances:
‘I said to the boastful, “Do not boast!” to the wicked, “Do not flaunt your strength! Do not flaunt your strength so proudly, do not talk with that arrogant stance.”’
A Reflection
This is yet another take on "the first shall be last."
Jesus is talking to a roomful of men who are considered to be important. Some of them must think that they are far more important than they are, if the normal distribution of ego applies, and the one who acts the most humble is likely to be the one closest to sainthood.
The example given by Jesus through his life and living is that simpler is better, less is more. We don't think of Donald Trump in the same terms as Mother Teresa. On the other hand, people like Bill Gates, regardless of how you like Microsoft Products, seem genuinely self-effacing and actively involved in giving back to humanity.
I have noticed from time to time that certain people achieve greatness precisely by their humility. It's not that they don't recognize who they are or what they know; it is that they know who they're not, and how very much they don't know.
A Collect
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who sets the solitary in families: We commend to your continual care the homes in which your people dwell. Put far from them, we beseech you, every root of bitterness, the desire of vainglory, and the pride of life. Fill them with faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness. Knit together in constant affection those who, in holy wedlock, have been made one flesh. Turn the hearts of the parents to the children, and the hearts of the children to the parents; and so enkindle fervent charity among us all, that we may evermore be kindly affectioned one to another; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
7:43:58 PM 
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