1 September 2013 - Please Seat Yourself

1 September 2013 - Please Seat Yourself

Humble yourself the more, the greater you are,
and you will find favor with God.

We know that we are called to be humble.  But how does that work, practically?

Rather, when you are invited,
go and take the lowest place

Jesus himself is our example in this.  He comes not to be served but to serve (cf. Mat. 20:28).  He washes the feet of those at table with him (cf. Joh. 13).  Even though Jesus empties himself and in a sense moves away from the host (cf. Phi. 2:7) the Father is always with him.  The Father vindicates his ultimate it is as if he says, "My friend, move up to a higher position."

Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. 

What are we to make of this?  Are we just strategizing so that we wind up looking good in the end?  If we all vie for position we will never esteem our guests and this banquet.  This is a banquet where we are known without illusion or pretense.  We esteem one another at this table when we let go of those things.  Only then can we truly see past ourselves to the others at this table.  And when we see them, we will see what our experience mirrored in their eyes.  This is the feast of the humble.

Rather, when you hold a banquet,
invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;

We are again called to be like Jesus who calls all of us to the heavenly banquet even though we are unworthy.  He calls us even while we are yet sinners (cf. Rom. 5:8).   And there is nothing we can do to repay him.  Ultimately, everything we have comes from God.  When we give we do not do so own our own.  Every good gift is from God and he is the one giving through us.  How then should we expect repayment?  Jesus is training us to love more purely.  For Jesus loving us is its own reward.

God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.  

In the banquet of his Church he makes a home for the poor.

No, you have approached Mount Zion
and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,

In some sense we are all poor.  We can do nothing to deserve this banquet.  We cannot repay the one who gives it.  All we can do is let God make our hearts like his own generous heart so that we may call everyone to join us at this feast.