September 2 - Jesus teaches Humility and Hospitality
Last Sunday I spoke about worship since the gospel recorded a time when
Jesus was in a synagogue – the Jewish church – on the Sabbath for worship.
Like you and I, He went to worship service to join in the praying and
singing, to listen to the reading from the Bible and to offer thanksgiving to
God for all His blessings.
After you’ve gone to church, what do you
do next?
If you’re like Jesus, you have lunch. Today’s gospel reports on
luncheon Jesus went to after worship.
On the Sabbath, Jesus went to eat a meal at the home of a leader of the Pharisees, and they were watching him closely. Luke 14:1
That a prominent Pharisee invited Jesus to dinner shouldn’t be
surprising - they had a lot in common.
They loved the word of God - the Bible - and always would have a lot to
talk about. But on the other hand, many Pharisees opposed Jesus – strongly
disagreed with him – and even conspired to get rid of him. So some of those sitting at that table were
watching him closely, looking for evidence they could use against him at a
later date.
Jesus went to dinner with Pharisees quite often - and as you
page through the gospels you’ll find that he liked to go out to dinner -
Jesus shared meals with all kinds of folks. A few weeks ago, we heard an account of one of
the dinners he had at the home of his friends, Mary and Martha.
And of course, there was that scandalous dinner party that Matthew
threw for Jesus - scandalous because Matthew invited tax-collectors and public
sinners, prostitutes and the like.
In John’s gospel, Jesus’ very first miracle took place at a huge
wedding reception - the party had gone on so long, that they had run out of
wine, and for his first miracle, Jesus turned water into fine wine - and everyone
sang “What a Friend we have in Jesus”.
Today’s meal is a sign of acceptance and recognition of others as
equals without distinction. Jesus and his opponents sitting at table together,
sharing a meal and conversation - not necessarily agreeing, but not breaking
fellowship. Brothers and sisters in
the Lord do not have to agree on everything to remain in fellowship. We can agree to disagree.
But toleration of a differing opinion takes humility. Humility - no matter how strongly I am convinced
that I am right, I am only human and hence I must admit the
possibility that you are
right even tho’
you disagree with me…and at the same time, accepting the fact that I don’t have to be right all the time.
So in the gospel, Jesus recommends humility: "When you are
invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down in a seat of honor.
What if someone more distinguished than you has also been invited by your host?
Then the host will say to you, 'Give this person your
seat.' You’ll be embarrassed and have to
take the lowest place.” 14:8,9
His words calls us to humility in our families and in the church family. Humility is necessary for our life together.
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A confident young seminary student - a pastor in training - went to
On Sunday in went out looking for a church and found a Pentecostal
congregation where the service was in progress.
And the usher directed him to a seat up front.
He wasn’t a Pentecostal and the service was unfamiliar. So as not to
make a fool of himself, he decided he would just imitate the man sitting next
to him. When they sang and the man
clapped his hands, he clapped. When the
man sat, he sat.
During the sermon, when the man yelled alleluia, he yelled alleluia.
Even though he didn’t understand much, he did a pretty good job of fitting in.
Then the preacher got to what sounded like announcements. The preacher said something he didn’t
understand and the man next to him stood up - so he stood too. Suddenly a hush fell over the congregation,
and some gasped. He looked around and
saw that only the two of them were standing, so he sat down.
After the service, the preacher
stood at the door shaking hands. When
our hero extended his hand, the preacher said in English, “I take it you don’t
speak Spanish,”
No, I don’t. Is it that obvious. “Well, yes.
When I announced the
“For all who exalt themselves will be humbled - Be humble or be humiliated - and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” - 14:11
For example,
“Never argue with a fool in public.
A passer-by may not be able to tell who is who.”
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While at the table, Jesus teaches about hospitality: When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your relatives or rich neighbors, for they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. 14:12
Jesus makes it clear that hospitality is not simply to be shown to
those who are like us, or to those you know.
Hospitality is to be shown to all – especially to the least and lowest.
Don’t offer your hospitality and generosity only to those who can
reciprocate. Rather be willing to be
generous and hospitable without expecting to get anything back. And you will be blessed, because they
cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. 14:14
Instead of just showing hospitality to those you know,
extend it to those you haven’t gotten to know yet. Just think how much richer
your table talk will be if you don't just associate only with your friends and
relatives.
Do not neglect to show
hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some have entertained angels without
knowing it.” Hebrews 13:1-2
Don’t forget to welcome strangers - for some have actually welcomed angels - messengers from God - by doing so.
This is a reference, of course, to the story in Genesis 18:1-33 of Abraham inviting three strangers in for a meal. The three turned out to be messengers of God.
The lesson? You never know whom you are talking to, or what doors your personal hospitality may open. That person you don’t know, may have been sent to you by the Lord. Perhaps they have a word you need to hear - or perhaps you have something to offer them.
Who is a stranger?
Members of the church are always referred to as brothers and sisters, so the reference is to an outsider – a new comer - someone you don’t know.
The admonition is to welcome them. Just as you have freely received God’s grace and mercy, so you should freely give with gestures of hospitality.
Welcome them as Christ has welcomed you.
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We live in a culture that praises independence, detachment from one
another, and freedom. Americans celebrate
individualism and autonomy. I’m in
charge of my life.
But that can lead to us thinking of ourselves as alone and on our own
in matters that count.
Christ’s answer to the
question “Am I alone?” is a resounding “No”. He calls us to lives of inter-relatedness and
mutual dependency. He teaches us to feel
responsible for other people and gives us the courage to acknowledge our
dependency on God and others.
While we’re big on “looking after ourselves”, that
self-sufficiency is really a myth. We do need other people. We do need “a little help from our friends”
to make it.
The Bible speaks of the church
as a fellowship where we have companions on our pilgrimage - as a community, a
place that cares - where people are accountable to and responsible for one
another.
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Look around you. You are
surrounded by people whom you didn’t know at all sometime ago – and many you
really don’t know well yet. But through
Christ they are your brothers and sisters, and thus part of your family – the
family of God.
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Our lessons speak of humility and hospitality...
Humility in our relationships with others
- for no one is better than any one else,
because we are all children of the heavenly Father
Humility and hospitality.
- we welcome others as Christ has welcomed us,
for they like us have been guided here by the Holy Spirit.
There are no strangers in church - no outsiders
because we are all brothers and sisters in the Lord
Humility and hospitality lead to fellowship and community:
As we’ll pray in the next hymn
Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love,
Show us how to serve the neighbors
we have from
you
These are the ones we will serve
These are the ones we will love
All these are neighbors to us and you