Conduct of invited guests and hosts

LUKE 14:1, 7-11

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 everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

REFLECTION THE ONE WHO HUMBLES HIMSELF WILL BE EXALTED. The Gospel continues yesterday’s, with a parable on hosts and guests that serves as Jesus’ rebuke to those who seek honor in the community. The conclusion of the parable, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted,” falls within the moral code of the Jews, but it also expresses faith in ultimate justice. The statement also concludes the parable of the two men going to prayer (cf Lk 18:14) and is used by Jesus to warn His listeners against self-serving pride (cf Mt 23:12). The “humble” in Luke’s social world refer to persons who are of low status, but from the perspective of Jesus, the humble are the anawim and are most valued. They put their whole trust in God. The divine passive “will be humbled, will be exalted” shows that it is God who humbles and who exalts. Our task is to live our Christian life and seek to glorify God in all things at all times.

Let us imitate John the Baptist who says, “He [Jesus] must increase; I must decrease.” — Jn 3:30