He told a parable to those who had been invited,
noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table.
In what ways do we choose the place of honor at the table? We all have a tendency to insist on being acknowledged, celebrated, and praised. When we take our place we worry that if we don't fight for ourselves no one will fight for us. One problem with this approach is that our partiality prevents us from seeing the full picture. If we insist on our own rights we miss the more distinguished guests whose presence could otherwise have been a delight for us. Now they only seem to be in conflict for what we want. The only safe approach is to leave the determination of the seating to the host.
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.'
In the reading it is assumed that the host will in fact invite us higher up. There isn't a contingency for that poor individual that actually belongs in the worst spot. Jesus has places of honor for all of us. But we must not try to take them. Indeed, we must learn to be content with the lowest place. Even if we find ourselves there for a while we must learn patience. At the banquet all we receive is gift. The lowest place in this banquet is better than anything else that is happening in the world. We are privileged to sit even in that place. When we realize that fact then the invitation to any higher seat is something we receive as gift rather than something earned. It becomes a thing of wonder and joy rather than something merely expected.
Paul is an example of one who is willing to let Jesus decide his destiny. It goes beyond even places of honor. He is able to surrender the whole course of his life to the host of the banquet.
Christ will be magnified in my body,
whether by life or by death.
For to me life is Christ, and death is gain.
Paul does want to depart this life and be with Christ, because that is indeed far better. He longs to enter the eternal banquet. But he is content to wait for the call of the host. He does not grudgingly accept his present place in the meantime. He embraces it.
And this I know with confidence,
that I shall remain and continue in the service of all of you
for your progress and joy in the faith,
so that your boasting in Christ Jesus may abound on account of me
when I come to you again.
It is right for us to thirst for the living God. It is right, therefore, that we want to take our places near to him. But we can't force our way there or earn it by accolades or achievements. Instead we must learn humility and patience to wait. He will surely call us higher.
I went with the throng
and led them in procession to the house of God.
Amid loud cries of joy and thanksgiving,
with the multitude keeping festival.
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