Humility

Sunday, September 1st, Proper 17, Year C

On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely.

When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, `Give this person your place,' and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, `Friend, move up higher'; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

He said also to the one who had invited him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." Luke 14:1, 7-14

Mac Davis wrote these lyrics. "Oh Lord, it's hard to be humble when you're perfect in every way." We all know that all humans judge others and can look down on others who they feel are inferior. We can even, because of role, wealth or upbringing, think we are superior. And yet, we can too often find ourselves humbled by these same attitudes.

Jesus was teaching both his disciples and the religious leaders who were watching him closely. They thought themselves superior in every way. Time after time, Jesus confronts the wealthy, the arrogant ad the judgmental, by calling them to humility and service. And we are called, if we would be followers, to humility and service. We are to invite the " poor, crippled, lame and the blind" for the very reason that they cannot repay us, nor give us status. Yet we are promised love and abundance beyond measure if we but humble ourselves.

Today, I ask God to help me live humbly always. May we be those who plan banquets for those who need us, giving honor to the outcasts and aliens, the marginalized and the hated. In these places, we will know great love.

Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.