Sunday Readings: Sirach 3.17-18, 20, 28-29; Hebrews 12.18-19, 22-24; Luke 14.87-14
“Then Jesus spoke to the one who had invited him to the meal: When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or relatives or rich neighbors. They may invite you in return. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. You will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” – Luke 14.12-14
Jesus is at the house of a leading Pharisee in Sunday’s gospel. Jesus notices the guests taking places of honor for the meal and cautions against taking the first places at tables lest one have to give up the seat. He recommends taking the lowest place. In his advice for making guest list, Jesus prefers those who cannot repay their hosts with a return invitation and place of honor at their tables. Jesus wants to broaden the circle of those who eat at the tables of the elite rather than tighten the social circle. He wants our guest lists to help distribute food justly rather than cut people off as chronically inferior, deserving only distance rather than place among us.
What places of honor might you give up? What would you lose or gain?
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