Sermon thoughts: 22. Sunday in Ordinary time C: (Lk 14, 1.7-14)
There are some grades among men: some have more to say than others.
Jesus speaks today about this sensitive issue: the order of precedence among men.
When seats are assigned to, there is a place of honour, there are better and worse places. By nature, man strives to be as high as possible. He wants to be the first everywhere.
Jesus notes this “search” for the first positions at a banquet, invited by a leading Pharisee. He takes this opportunity to give them a lesson: “Sit down to the lowest seat! He who exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
At first glance, this seems like a particularly clever way to get a better place, but that’s not what Jesus really aims. He aims for a static attitude in the handling of human beings.
He himself has set an example: “He was like God, but did not set out to be like God, but emptied himself and became like a slave … he humbled himself and was obedient unto death, even death on the cross“; says the letter to Philippians.
On the cross, Jesus took the lowest place. “Therefore God has exalted him above all and gave him the name which is above every name.” And it is in the resurrection, he gets the first place.
But how could Jesus take the last place, that’s so unpopular to our nature? He said on another occasion: “My honor I receive not from men … It is my Father, who glorifies me, he says.
Jesus has laid down his life from childhood to death in God. The 12-year-old boy says to Mary and Joseph in the temple: “Don’t you know that I must be with my Father?”.
On the cross he cried out: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.”
Anchored in God, Jesus could take the last place, for he was aware of his place of honor with his father.
The same is applicable for us. We need not got for the hunt for the best place, because we have this already: We are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ!
We need not be concerned about our reputation, because we are seen by God’s loving care. Those who join in the hunt for the best seats, has lost sight and will slowly lose his peace and joy in life.
The reality we face is not an easy one. Nevertheless, it is possible: He who knows his fellow man can easily love and believe in the love of God, And respect the human dignity too. This may help one to see everything in the faith in God. The honour of the World may not bother him any more.
Let us regain our sights. May God bless us all. Amen.
-
Fr Thomas Kalathil
