Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 14,1, 7-14
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 every one who exalts himself will be humbled,
but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Then he said to the host who invited him,
“When you hold a lunch or a dinner,
do not invite your friends or your brothers
or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors,
in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.
Rather, when you hold a banquet,
invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;
blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.
For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Humility is your path
1. They observed him carefully. They were watching Jesus closely, hoping He’d make a mistake so they could destroy him, “game over” him. In the same way, you can observe those around you. Some people love to find fault in others just to tear them down, throw it back in their face later, or save it as leverage. Please, don’t go around observing people just to condemn or destroy them. You and I are sinners too; we could do worse things, and you know it.
2. They seek. Many of us seek recognition and the top spot. We shouldn’t be chasing fame. It’s sad when we see Christians whose main desire is no longer holiness or service, but rather to become the president of their church movement or group, or a Eucharistic minister (just to be seen distributing communion at Sunday Mass). How often do we see priests who only want to become bishops or even the Pope, loving to be called “Monsignor”? Or nuns who love being the Mother Superior or get depressed if they’re not a novice director? That’s not Christian; that’s selfish. We must remember that our calling is to serve and then fade away. “Do things as if God didn’t exist and entrust things to God as if you didn’t exist.”
3) The lowest place. God reminds us that in life, we walk to serve, and our true treasure is heaven. Here on earth, we must work to bring souls to heaven and to be good men and women. Maybe many will never know about all the good we do, but I assure you, your Father in heaven knows.
Remember that something good is on the way!
God bless you and be with you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
