Daily Mass Gospel Reflection- Taking The Lower Place

Word on Fire Ministry ^ | 11.04.23 | Bishop Robert Barron

[MurphsLaw]

Luke 14:1, 7-11

Friends, in today’s Gospel,
Jesus notices people jockeying for the highest place at a banquet.
And do you see what he does?
He notices how this game interrupts God’s intention for his people
and so he endeavors to interrupt the interruption.
What he is urging in his parable is that we have the courage
not to play the game of honor at all.

When every instinct in your body says to take the higher place,
you should in fact take the lowest place,
the place where you are least likely to be noticed.
What if you tried this on the sports field,
at work, in your family, among your friends?
It would be like breaking yourself of an addiction.

Then he pushes it even further.
Sometimes we invite people to parties or we are kind to them
so that we might be repaid.
So, the Lord says,
don’t invite people who can invite you back;
don’t be kind to people who are likely to be kind to you.
Love your enemies; invite the poor,
the forgotten, the homeless.

The quest for honor is an addiction like any other.
It interrupts what God wants for us.
Pray for the grace to break it.

[MurphsLaw]

+++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."+++