Lk 14:1, 7-14
As always, today’s Gospel passage has many levels. On the surface, Jesus is offering some practical advice. It touches on two strong customs in his day: hospitality and reciprocity. Both were wedded to the idea of, “You do something for me and I will return the favor”.
Luke places today’s teaching in the context of a meal. Much of the evangelist’s teachings are presented in the sharing of food. It has been said we can eat our way through Luke’s rendition of the Good News.
Obviously, Jesus was always inviting his followers into a much more profound level of human experience than practical table manners. He is drawing us into the presence of God that opens the stuff of daily life to its deepest meaning and mystery.
Luke puts special emphasis on Jesus’ mission to turn the world upside down. He does this through many expressions of the theme of reversal. Today’s version is: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Lk 14:11).
The teachings of this Sunday are given in the form of a parable. The lessons are about the Kingdom: the great reversal that is to come. We are called to receive the poor and the lowly. There we will find the special treasure of God. The great and powerful of this world will find their status woefully lacking and diminished in the new upside-down world of the Kingdom. Bigger and better is not going to be the coin of the new realm. The call for us in this great reversal is to go beyond the system of shame and honor to true hospitality. Translated literally, hospitality means love of a stranger. We are called to embrace Jesus’ ever-expanding suggestion of inclusion. The Gospel message is into a seemingly endless onslaught on our false and convenient boundaries.
Hospitality in Jesus’ teaching is not a token gesture of quid pro quo but true sacrifice and involvement with those in need, especially those close to us. Too often, Christian assistance is about fundraising as a product and unrelated to personal service. Feeling good holds sway over self-giving. True Gospel hospitality and concern draws us out of our narrow comfort zone. It should truly cut into our time, talent and treasure far beyond the annoyance of a second collection.
Jesus was challenging the deeply entrenched and self-serving customs of his day: a distorted sense of hospitality and reciprocity. Jesus is calling us to truly extend our service and concern beyond a handout. We are asked to search for ways to share our table and our life with those in our midst in need. This is not an easy task. It is a part of the uprooting and world-shattering dimensions of all of Jesus’ teaching. Too often, the ordinary practices of our helping those in need prove to be an obstacle and a hindrance to the message of Jesus in today’s Gospel. More frequently than not, it is about a sense of accomplishment rather personal sacrifice.
In the great reversal of God’s Kingdom, God will be the host. As Luke teaches us in the Magnificat (Lk 1:51-53) and the Beatitudes and the Woes (Lk 6:20-26) the poor and neglected will have a special place. The way of the world that wraps self-serving activity in the twisted activities of false hospitality and reciprocity, will come to a crashing conclusion. God, as the host of the heavenly banquet, will do the humbling and exalting. This is the Good News: all have an invitation to the table. The guests will be measured by service not by prestige and wealth. The ticket is a heart and life committed to truly helping those who are in need.
