 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
EARLY THOUGHTS
Luke 14: 1, 7-14
1 On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely.
7 When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable.
8 "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;
9 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.
10 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.
11 For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
12 He 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.
13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.
14 And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
As I look at the table at our house it is a sight to see. But there are none of the people who Jesus tells us to invite at our table. It always seems to be those who Jesus says we should not invite sitting around our table—rich neighbors, relatives, friends. So then what are we to do?
I suspect that most of us would be quite uncomfortable inviting those who Jesus says for us to invite—the poor, the blind, the lame. Is Jesus simple making suggestions for us that we can heed as we see fit or is there something else at work? I believe that Jesus is saying two things; 1) take care of those who are on the margins of society. Since you have been so generously blessed by God, share those blessings. 2) Remember that God is the one doing the inviting and God invites all to the table.
We are to remember that we may not be specifically listed for those to invite by Jesus but we suffer from our own malady that puts us on the list that God comes to heal. Maybe you suffer from anger, or disappointment, having a judgmental spirit or you are holding a grudge. Regardless, God calls us to the table where we are nurtured and forgiven. Can we be those who invite others to come to receive the same gifts.