WORTHY HOSPITALITY (32)
Scripture: Luke 14:1, Luke 14:7-14
This content is part of a series.
Worthy Hospitality (32)
Lectionary, Year C, Proper 17
Christopher B. Harbin
Luke 14:1, 7-14
We like rewards. Some we prefer over others. Participation trophies never meant much to me. There are rewards we work to achieve, and there are those we receive unexpectedly. There are rewards that come while we are working for something completely different. Sometimes, however, we may be earnestly seeking after rewards that simply do not matter, while missing sight of those that would truly make a difference. Where is our focus? Are we looking for what matters and lasts, or do we settle for things that are all too fleeting?
Last Sunday, we saw Jesus healing on a Sabbath. In the section of today’s text we didn’t read, he healed again on this new Sabbath day in question. He helped someone who had nothing to offer him in return. As before at the synagogue, he reminded those tied up in their traditions that they cared for their livestock every day of the week, including the Sabbath. Then he continued on his way a home where he had been invited as a guest.
It seems Jesus was always teaching. He observed people jockeying for position of pride and place as they took the most prominent seats for themselves with little regard for others. This was apparently commonplace. What seems less commonplace is that Jesus took the opportunity to discuss this practice with his disciples as to how one would best proceed in trying to really look good before the rest of those assembled as guests.
Luke tells us point blank that this was a parable. We are not to take Jesus literally. We are not to believe this is how we should act. Rather, if we were in fact seeking immediate reward on a social level, debasing oneself by taking the least prominent position would be the way to go, rather than making a show of prominence only to be shifted to a lesser position by one’s host. As always, to best understand Jesus, reading context is important. The goals we are actually trying to achieve sh ...
Lectionary, Year C, Proper 17
Christopher B. Harbin
Luke 14:1, 7-14
We like rewards. Some we prefer over others. Participation trophies never meant much to me. There are rewards we work to achieve, and there are those we receive unexpectedly. There are rewards that come while we are working for something completely different. Sometimes, however, we may be earnestly seeking after rewards that simply do not matter, while missing sight of those that would truly make a difference. Where is our focus? Are we looking for what matters and lasts, or do we settle for things that are all too fleeting?
Last Sunday, we saw Jesus healing on a Sabbath. In the section of today’s text we didn’t read, he healed again on this new Sabbath day in question. He helped someone who had nothing to offer him in return. As before at the synagogue, he reminded those tied up in their traditions that they cared for their livestock every day of the week, including the Sabbath. Then he continued on his way a home where he had been invited as a guest.
It seems Jesus was always teaching. He observed people jockeying for position of pride and place as they took the most prominent seats for themselves with little regard for others. This was apparently commonplace. What seems less commonplace is that Jesus took the opportunity to discuss this practice with his disciples as to how one would best proceed in trying to really look good before the rest of those assembled as guests.
Luke tells us point blank that this was a parable. We are not to take Jesus literally. We are not to believe this is how we should act. Rather, if we were in fact seeking immediate reward on a social level, debasing oneself by taking the least prominent position would be the way to go, rather than making a show of prominence only to be shifted to a lesser position by one’s host. As always, to best understand Jesus, reading context is important. The goals we are actually trying to achieve sh ...
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