Scripture:
Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29
Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a
Luke 14:1, 7-14
Reflection:
In our Gospel reading for Sunday (Luke 14:1, 7-14), Jesus has been invited to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees. He takes notice of how people were choosing where to sit, and He tells a parable of what to do in that kind of situation. The parable ends with: “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 “
Often when I read these words, I can imagine someone figuring out that a way he or she could be exalted is to make some show of being humble, which, of course, would not be sincere.
So, what comes to me is that Jesus is not talking about being exalted over others. Instead, I think He is talking about being lifted up. When we humble ourselves before God, knowing that we don’t deserve the love and mercy shown us in Jesus Christ, then we open ourselves to the love and healing of God, and we are lifted up. We don’t have some kind of elevated status in comparison to others. We are being raised up in God’s grace and love. When we hold on to pour pride, we usually don’t let God in to heal us.
When we see things in this way, and in the light of yet another shooting of yet some more children at yet another house of worship, having status doesn’t seem to have much importance, does it?
We are called to help lift others up as we have been lifted up. In the words of Jesus, we are to invite “the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,” to the feast where Jesus offers the gift of His very self, poured out for us.
May God lift us and our humble efforts up, so that people may hear and see the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Fr. Phil Paxton, CP, is the Pastor of Holy Family Parish in Birmingham, and St. Mary’s Parish in Fairfield, Alabama. He is the Local Superior of the Passionist Community in Birmingham, Alabama.