Posted on 08/28/2016 7:03:48 AM PDT by Salvation
In the Gospel for Sundays Mass, the Lord Jesus summons us to a deeper appreciation for what brings true honor, for what makes a person truly great. As you may imagine, what the world considers great and honorable is rather different from what God thinks and sees. Lets look at this Gospel in three parts and discover its paradoxical vision.
I. THE PERSON who HONORS The Lord is at a banquet and notices people vying for seats of honor. In response, He gives the following teaching: 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.
What the Lord is really reminding us is that at formal banquets, it is the host who determines where we sit. This is most common at wedding receptions, where seats are assigned by the couple ahead of time. For someone to walk in and sit at the head table reserved for the wedding party is both rude and pompous. The polite and expected thing is to report to the entrance table, receive a table number, and graciously take your seat there.
Of course the banquet we are invited to is Gods Kingdom. In that Kingdom God has a place for us, but it is God who assigns each his place.
Recall that when a dispute arose among the Apostles as to who was the greatest, Jesus responded, I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom (Luke 22:29).
Another time, when James and John approached Jesus for seats at His right and left (places of honor), Jesus responded, But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared (Mk 10:40).
So, our places in the Kingdom are determined by God.
Many miss this point and like to assign themselves places and honors in Gods kingdom. But in the end, that right belongs to God. Some go through life resentful that they are not as rich or powerful as others. Some wish they were taller, thinner, smarter, or more attractive. They are jealous of what they see as the advantages of others.
Be very careful here. It is not for us to determine what is best for us. It is not for us to assign our own seat. Just because we think it is better to be rich than poor does not mean that it is so. The Lord warns how difficult it is for the rich to inherit the Kingdom of God. So being rich isnt necessarily the blessing we think it is. It is for God to decide what is best for us. Riches, power, popularity, and good looks are all things that tend to root us in this world; they are not necessarily blessings. Having a good job like someone elses, a family like someone elses, or a talent like someone elses may not be what is best for us.
God decides all that; he gives us the talents and blessings as well as the burdens and challenges He knows are best for us. So dont just walk into Gods Kingdom and seat yourself! Check in with the host and find out His will in terms of your seat. Hes got just the right one for you.
II. THE PARADOX of HONORS Jesus was noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table. In effect, He was struck by how people perceive honor and how they vie for what they think is honor. They want to impress others and be thought of as important.
But remember, this is Gods banquet. The qualifications for the seats of honor there are very different from those necessary for worldly honors. In the world, we are impressed by things like brawn, beauty, bling, and bucks. Were impressed by big cars, big houses, big hair, and a big entourage. When a limo pulls up, just watch all eyes turn. The popular, the powerful, the glitterati, and the game changers emerge to flashing cameras and thunderous applause. These are the things that we notice; this is what draws our eyes.
But what about God? As God looks around the banquet hall of His Kingdom, who draws His eye? The Lord provides the answer in many places in Scripture:
So, back to our question: In the banquet hall of Gods Kingdom, who catches His eye? Is it those at the head table? It is those on the red carpet behind the rope line? No. If we apply Gods words, we see that those who catch Gods eye are not even at the table; they are those waiting on the tables, those serving, those back in the kitchen cooking and washing dishes! It is the lowly, the humble, the servants of all, who catch Gods eye.
Here is the paradox of honor in Gods kingdom: It is not about being powerful in the worldly sense. God is not impressed by the size of our house, car, or bank account. Our popularity does not impress Him. It is our service, humility, and love for others that catches His eye. The seats of honor, the places closest to Gods heart, are for those who serve.
III. THE PRESCRIPTION for HONORS The prescription is clear. Jesus instructs us, 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.
What all this adds up to is that if we want to be great in the Kingdom of God then we had better become a servant. Jesus says that we should take the lowest place, that we should serve before we sit. What makes a person great is serving. The greatest thing about us is not our big paycheck or our fancy house; it is that we serve.
We are great when we identify with the lowly and humble and seek to serve rather than to be served. We are great when we use our wealth, power, talents, and abilities to build up the people of God and extend His Kingdom. Even things we do for which we are paid can be service, provided that serving is our primary motivation.
Jesus then adds, When you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. What this amounts to is a complete change in the way we see what is great in this world.
Jesus is giving us more than a moralism here (be generous to the poor). He is offering us a new vision for who is greatest in His Kingdom. We ought to run to the poor, the blind the lame, and the afflicted, because they give us the ability to serve. In the end, our greatest honor is serving others, especially the poor and afflicted who cannot repay us.
A final dimension to all this is learning that some of the greatest and most honorable people we know are those who serve us. Because serving is the greatest honor in the Kingdom of God, we ought to hold in high honor those who wait on our tables, clean our houses and workplaces, do the dirty work, serve in our hospitals, and care for us and serve us in countless other ways. They are doing something honorable and we ought to treat them with respect, kindness, and honor. We ought to give generous tips when that is appropriate, but above all we are to honor them.
For the greatest among you is the servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all (Mk 10:43).
Yes, you have to serve before you sit in any place of honor at Gods banquet.
The song in the video below says, Sit down, servant. I cant sit down
My souls so happy that I cant sit down. The video depicts quite a varied cultural expression: a Thai choir singing an African-American spiritual!
Monsignor Pope Ping!
We are great when we identify with the lowly and humble and seek to serve rather than to be served. We are great when we use our wealth, power, talents, and abilities to build up the people of God and extend His Kingdom...
Jesus then adds, When you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you...
Jesus is giving us more than a moralism here (be generous to the poor). He is offering us a new vision for who is greatest in His Kingdom. We ought to run to the poor, the blind the lame, and the afflicted, because they give us the ability to serve. In the end, our greatest honor is serving others, especially the poor and afflicted who cannot repay us.
A final dimension to all this is learning that some of the greatest and most honorable people we know are those who serve us...
Another great piece by Pope.
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