BIBLE STUDY #9
TWENTY SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
AUGUST 29, 2010
Gospel 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.”
The Gospel of the Lord


Reflection


Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem and stops at the house of a Pharisee to dine. Usually, these meetings led to a confrontation. The Pharisees (or Jesus’ other opponents) would attempt to provoke Jesus so that they could find grounds to accuse him. Jesus’ has already predicted his passion and death, and his opponents are silent when Jesus asks questions, which shows their deteriorating relationship, which eventually leads to Jesus death.

Verses 1-24 of chapter 14 reflect on the demands of table fellowship with the Lord, and it is an expression of the post Easter faith of the church. This section also reflects on the churches growing movement away from Judaism and towards the gentiles.

In our parable today, Jesus speaks in the second person: “When you are invited…” which makes us place ourselves directly into the story; the story thus becomes personal, it reflects on our own actions.

The parable is about humility. Webster’s Dictionary defines being humble as “not proud or haughty: not arrogant or assertive.” Harper’s Bible Dictionary defines humility in the biblical world as, “a value that directs persons to stay within their inherited social status, specifically by not presuming on others and even avoiding even the appearance of lording over another. Humble persons do not threaten or challenge another’s rights, nor do they claim for themselves than has been duly allotted them in life.” The word humble derives from the Latin word humilis, meaning low or from the earth.

This parable, then, tells us that humility is a great Christian virtue, something we should all practice. We are not to look for honor or prestige. When Mother Teresa received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, she asked that the$6,000.00 needed to pay for the banquet in her honor be donated to the poor in Calcutta, which would feed hundreds of people for a year. She didn’t need the prestige from humans, just from God. She is like the person who looks for the low seat at the banquet, and is honored and asked to move up by the host.

Of course, there is that false humility that looks for the lowest place for no other reason than to be picked out of the crowd and to be moved up so every one notices. That’s a form of pride we need to avoid.

Alcoholics Anonymous defines humility as “not thinking less of yourself. It is thinking of yourself less.” The proud are always thinking of themselves, of how good they are, of how may accolades they deserve, how they are better than others. The humble think of others, how they can help and serve those in need.

The proud believe in the following statement: “God made me in his image and likeness, and I have since returned the favor”. They believe that they know what God should do in every situation; they have an opinion about everything, and will argue their point. The humble person recognizes God’s greatness, that they may not understand everything, but give God the benefit of the doubt. They know how much they need God in their lives. They are willing to change their opinions, and more importantly, I believe, they do not have the need to convince everyone that they are right. They can let people have different opinions from them.

Being humble does not mean being spineless. Humility doesn’t require us to let people walk all over us.

A humble person has a good sense of themselves. They have an idea of their strengths and weaknesses. They don’t brag about their strengths, and work on correcting their weaknesses.

In today’s society, so much of people’s self image comes from what other people think of them. We want (need?) other peoples approval to feel good about ourselves. We need to have others exalt us so we are important and can feel good about ourselves. This is a false way to live. If we are good people with a healthy self-image, who rely on God, why do we care what others think? A proud person needs the approval of others. The humble person doesn’t look for it, but when and if it comes, they say a simple thank you. Some people think that a humble person denies all compliments, but that’s a false humility that draws attention to oneself in an attempt to build themselves up. They are proud of their humility!

The use of a wedding banquet reminds us of the heavenly wedding feast, the heavenly table of the Lord, and where God, the host of the banquet, seats us. God promises us in verse 11, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” When we enter the heavenly banquet, which one will we be?



Fr. Phil