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John W. MartensAugust 29, 2010

In the Gospel reading for the Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, from Luke 14:1, 7-14, Jesus speaks two parables. The first deals with honor, embarrassment, humility and exaltation. In the NRSV, the first parable is as follows: “when he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable.  "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give this person your place,’ and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (7-11).

Is this parable simple? It seems so, as Jesus warns against an undue sense of superiority, mostly to avoid embarrassment. He calls for humility to avoid embarrassment or, in my word, dishonor. Jesus undercuts, it seems, the whole notion of honor. Or does he? He acknowledges “lower” and “higher” places and seems to suggest that some “someone more distinguished than you” could have been invited by your host. But this leads, finally, to another question: is there a time when you could be certain to be the “most” distinguished guest? When should climbing to the head table be presumed as your right? On what basis? Wealth? Education? Talent? Character? Position? Rank? Seniority? Wisdom? I know that Jesus’ parable is ultimately pointing us to the true exaltation and the true humbling, which are spiritual in nature, but as so often with Jesus’ parables how we behave with our material goods in this life has implications for the spiritual life and world to come. Disentangle and disattach yourself from worldly honor and exaltation, even when they are due you on some earthly level, and live with humility. Honor will come, but what matters is the honor of the world to come.

Healthy advice for the partygoer, but what about the host or hostess? Jesus “said also to the one who had invited him, ‘When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous’” (12-14). Do not invite those who have honor, or even connections to you, such as friends and relatives, but think of those who have nothing and who cannot repay you. Again, it is not a matter of the notion of repayment as such being rejected, but of repayment being deferred until the world to come. Reach out to those in need, who can neither pay you back nor lend you their honor.

That’s a lot of deferral for those of us who live in this world. It’s almost like that’s the point of these parables. Live humbly and reach out to those in need, expecting nothing in return. I still have trouble, though, with not inviting my friends and family to eat. I tend to be most humble with those who know how humble I need to be. Am I missing something here? And how does this apply to our life as the Church, the body of Christ, and not simply as individuals?

John W. Martens

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William Rydberg
13 years 7 months ago
I generally sit in the very front pew for daily Mass since it is generally always available.  Seems to me that folks take the Lord too literally!  We shouldn't shrink from Him.  A curious attitude/prac†ice undertaken by many of the Catholic faithful.  I don't understand the individual motivations when I see people sitting so far from the Altar.  After all, He is incarnate Love.   Does anybody have any thoughts.  PAX
joseph o'leary
13 years 7 months ago
Yes, Mr. MassGoer (or may I call you Daily?) what's up with that? ;-)

I seem to recall that Linus (the Peanuts character), when asked by his school teacher why he was sitting so far back in the classroom, replied with this very parable from Luke. (And, after taking an unheard comeback from the teacher, commented to the reader, that she ''wasn't too keen on Luke,'' or something similar.)

Aside from that, I've neve heard anyone connect the parable with seating choice (particularly during Mass).

My apologies for taking the discussion farther afield.









david power
13 years 6 months ago
Simply LOL
Rick Folker
13 years 6 months ago
As I was taught in Seminary, it is always beneficial (if not downright mandatory) to look at the historical/social setting of some of the NT parables.  For first century Christians and non-Christians (i.e. Graeco-Roman pagans) the notion of honor and shame (as well as purity codes, household (oikos) codes, kashrut (eating rituals) were the lingua franca of (let's say) the Yuppies (not Pharisees) of the day (see Neyrey, Malina, and Douglass' work on Palestinian culture and status).  I believe, in this parable, that Jesus is speaking very forcefully (he didnt have much tolerance for niceties) about turning the Yuppy world upside down and challenging the status quo of both Temple & Empire.  Something like sitting at all-white lunch counters as a black man or woman in the 1960's south (i.e. Jesus wouldnt make it very far at the local country club).  First and foremost, I think he wanted the disciples and (aghast!!- even us) to question symbols and institutions of power and privilege (as my NT prof. Warren Carter used to say; nice guys and company men dont get crucified and spit on).  And thats the truth Ruth :)

Pax,
Rick in KC

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