Sunday, October 26, 2003
Sunday, October 26, 2003
Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes.
Then Jesus turns to his host and says, "When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your
friends or your brothers or your kinsmen or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return, and
you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, and
you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the
just."
In his unique, joyous way Jesus gives us some practical lessons that only a few wise persons
ever heed.
(Psalm 119.135
NRSV)
"When you are invited to a wedding feast," Jesus said, "do not sit down in a place of honor.
Suppose a more prestigious person than you is invited? Then the host of the wedding feast will
come to you and ask you to move down. That will be most embarrassing to you. Let me give you
a better strategy. When you go to a wedding feast, sit down in the lowliest place in the room.
Then when the host spots you, he will invite you to move up. Then you can have a modest smile
on your face as you say, 'Excuse me, excuse me,' and make your way toward the front. You will
be honored in front of all your friends." What kind of advice is that for a spiritual leader to give to
his followers? There's nothing theological about it. Nothing awe-inspiring. It's practical. It's
humorous. It's lighthearted. Folks are sitting around grinning at the freshness of Jesus' insight.
Then Jesus drives his point home. "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he
who humbles himself will be exalted."
Loving God, keep teaching me your ways until I get it. Amen.
