In the middle of the reading from Paul’s letter to Timothy is a sentence which has been part of the Anglican tradition of worship for over 450 years.
15” The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”.
It has come to be known as part of a small collection of verses known as the “Comfortable Words” found in the BCP Communion Service. Like John 3:16, it gives us a summary of why Jesus came. We hear the phrase “save sinners”, and we are perhaps not sure what it means. Well, today’s gospel reading tells us what this little verse means. What does it look like when Christ Jesus comes into the world to save sinners? I suggest we do a little refresher based on the Three R’s :
Relationship
Repentance
Rejoicing.
The first R is Relationship.
At the beginning of this gospel we see that the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near to Jesus to listen to what he was saying. Apparently whatever Jesus was selling, they were buying; whatever Jesus was teaching, they were willing to learn, and whatever Jesus was saying, they were listening. The beginning of relationship is just talking – Jesus is having a conversation with these notorious folks. And the Pharisees and scribes fill in the picture for us a bit more: "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Jesus does more than just lecture to the sinners and tax collectors. He spends time with them, welcoming them and sitting down and enjoying a meal with them, Jesus wants to build friendship, trust, relationship with them.
It’s fairly evident that the Pharisees are not really interested in that sort of thing. But Jesus is. God is deeply interested in relationships: both those we share among one another, and the relationship we share with Him. It’s what Jesus summarized when he reminded us to love God and our neighbours.
When we look at the parables Jesus tells, what is the outcome? The shepherd calls together his friends and neighbours; the woman of the house calls together her friends and neighbours.. Relationships are the building blocks of the Church. It’s what Jesus summarized when he reminded us to love God and our neighbours.
The second R is Repentance.
So what was Jesus saying to the tax collectors and sinners that made them want to stay listen to him? The parables he tells give us a hint: A sheep gets lost, a coin gets lost, ultimately of course, it is about hearts which are lost.
15:3 So he told them this parable:
15:4 "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them,
does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?
15:5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices.
15:6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.
15:7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
The shepherd doesn’t tell us how the sheep got lost. he doesn’t say whether the sheep wandered off on its own, or gradually strayed little by little, or got scared by something and disappeared. The shepherd doesn’t give us the details of how far the sheep had wandered. No, the shepherd is not interested in us knowing those details.
Jesus tells us that the shepherd does not cut his losses. After all, losing only one out of a hundred is pretty good. Why not just let it go? The shepherd cares for the one. He is willing to pursue it wherever it has gone, now matter how far. He wants that one.
And what does he do when he finds it? He carries it home on his shoulders. And that is at the heart of repentance: It is not about punishment for wrongdoing, or excessive guilt over our faults; it is not about wringing our hands in self pity: it is about coming home. Coming Home on the shoulders of the Good Shepherd. Repent, and turn toward Home. And if you don’t think you can get there, don’t worry, the shepherd will carry you there himself. All sin is a wandering of the heart away from God. All repentance is a turning and being carried homeward; back to the One who made us; home to the one who loves us. Jesus came to carry us home. [Comin for to carry me home]
15:8 "Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?
15:9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.'
15:10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
What about the lost coin? The coin is lost inside the house. Maybe you don’t have to wander out of the sheepfold in order to be lost. Maybe you can be lost right in the midst of the house – even in the midst of the house of God. And what does this woman do? She searches, she sweeps, she looks in every nook and cranny. She gets down and dirty, prying and looking in cracks and crevices until she finds the coin – because she knows it is valuable. We aren’t told how tarnished the coin is when she finds it. We aren’t told where it rolled to. We are only told that it was lost, and she will not stop searching until she finds it. Like the shepherd, she is not content to cut her losses and just let it go. She wants it, it is hers, and when she finds it I’m certain that she held it in her hand, cleaning and polishing it until it shines like new. It is back with her, where it belongs.
The third R is Rejoicing:
What does the shepherd do when he finds the sheep? He puts it on his shoulders and rejoices. He knows the sheep is frightened, and has lost its way. He knows the sheep is tired, and doesn’t have the strength to make its way home. And so he carries it, on his shoulders, rejoicing.
And what about the coin? Where is the coin? It’s in her hand. Held in her hand. Think about that. Held in the hand of God, who has been looking and searching, for you. And when she finds it, she calls together everyone she knows so that they can share her joy.
God’s joy is infectious, it is too good to keep to himself. He calls together his friends and neighbours to rejoice with him over the heart that has come home. When was the last time you considered that you could give joy to God? When have we considered that coming home to God, turning our hearts toward him, and letting Him bring us home, gives God joy?
This little section is part of three parables, the final one is the parable of prodigal son. Like the parable of the prodigal son, we tend to leave our focus on the wrong part. We think of the lost sheep, the lost coin. Instead, let us think about the found sheep and the found coin;
Nor are the parables about the scolding shepherd, the frustrated woman. Instead, it’s about the rejoicing shepherd, the rejoicing woman.
What do the shepherd and the woman do? they call together their friends and neighbours to rejoice and celebrate over what they found. I’m sure the sheep and coin were not expecting such a welcome. And often we don’t either. We tend to think that repentance leads to punishment, to fear or humiliation. What can we expect when we turn our hearts toward God, toward He who is our true home? We find ourselves in the centre of a celebration. We are not held up as examples or warnings or case studies, instead , we are held up as the cause of God’s joy -
15:10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
Think of what Jesus is telling us in these parables. Feeling tired and weary? He’ll carry you. Feeling lost? He’ll find you. Feeling tarnished? He will polish you. Feeling lonely? He’ll call all his friends and neighbours over. Feeling insignificant? He’ll make you the centre of his attention. Feeling worthless? He’ll show you that you precious in his sight.
Feeling insecure? You are carried on his shoulders, and sheltered and held in the palm of his hand.
15 “The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Sermon Notes for September 16/ Pentecost 16
In the middle of the reading from Paul’s letter to Timothy is a sentence which has been part of the Anglican tradition of worship for over 450 years.
15” The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”.
It has come to be known as part of a small collection of verses known as the “Comfortable Words” found in the BCP Communion Service. Like John 3:16, it gives us a summary of why Jesus came. We hear the phrase “save sinners”, and we are perhaps not sure what it means. Well, today’s gospel reading tells us what this little verse means. What does it look like when Christ Jesus comes into the world to save sinners? I suggest we do a little refresher based on the Three R’s :
Relationship
Repentance
Rejoicing
The first R is Relationship.
At the beginning of this gospel we see that the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near to Jesus to listen to what he was saying. Apparently whatever Jesus was selling, they were buying; whatever Jesus was teaching, they were willing to learn, and whatever Jesus was saying, they were listening. The beginning of relationship is just talking – Jesus is having a conversation with these notorious folks. And the Pharisees and scribes fill in the picture for us a bit more: "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Jesus does more than just lecture to the sinners and tax collectors. He spends time with them, welcoming them and sitting down and enjoying a meal with them, Jesus wants to build friendship, trust, relationship with them.
It’s fairly evident that the Pharisees are not really interested in that sort of thing. But Jesus is. God is deeply interested in relationships: both those we share among one another, and the relationship we share with Him.
When we look at the parables Jesus tells, what is the outcome? The shepherd calls together his friends and neighbours; the woman of the house calls together her friends and neighbours.. Relationships are the building blocks of the Church.
The second R is Repentance.
So what was Jesus saying to the tax collectors and sinners that made them want to stay listen to him? The two parables he tells give us a hint: A sheep gets lost, a coin gets lost, a heart gets lost.
15:3 So he told them this parable:
15:4 "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them,
does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?
15:5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices.
15:6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.
15:7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
The shepherd doesn’t tell us how the sheep got lost. he doesn’t say whether the sheep wandered off on its own, or gradually strayed little by little, or got scared by something and disappeared. The shepherd doesn’t give us the details of how far the sheep had wandered. No, the shepherd is not interested in us knowing those details.
Jesus tells us that the shepherd does not cut his losses. After all, losing only one out of a hundred is pretty good. Why not just let it go? The shepherd cares for the one. He is willing to pursue it wherever it has gone, now matter how far. He wants that one.
And what does he do when he finds it? He carries it home on his shoulders. And that is at the heart of repentance: It is not about punishment for wrongdoing, or excessive guilt over our faults; it is not about wringing our hands in self pity: it is about coming home. Coming Home on the shoulders of the Good Shepherd. Repent, and turn toward Home. And if you don’t think you can get there, don’t worry, the shepherd will carry you there himself. All sin is a wandering of the heart away from God. All repentance is a turning and being carried homeward; back to the One who made us; home to the one who loves us. Jesus came to carry us home.
15:8 "Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?
15:9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.'
15:10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
What about the lost coin? The coin is lost inside the house. Maybe you don’t have to wander out of the sheepfold in order to be lost. Maybe you can be lost right in the midst of the house – even in the midst of the house of God. And what does this woman do? She searches, she sweeps, she looks in every nook and cranny. She gets down and dirty, prying and looking in cracks and crevices until she finds the coin – because she knows it is valuable. We aren’t told how tarnished the coin is when she finds it. We aren’t told where it rolled to. We are only told that it was lost, and she will not stop searching until she finds it. Like the shepherd, she is not content to cut her losses and just let it go. She wants it, it is hers, and when she finds it I’m certain that she hold it in her hand, cleaning and polishing it until it shines like new. It is back with her, where it belongs.
The third R is Rejoicing:
And what does he do when he find the sheep? He puts it on his shoulders and rejoices. He knows the sheep is frightened, and has lost its way. He knows the sheep is tired, and doesn’t have the strength to make its way home. And so he carries it, on his shoulders, rejoicing.
And what about the coin? Where is the coin? It’s in her hand. Held in her hand. Think about that. Held in the hand of God, who has been looking and searching, for you.
God’s joy is infectious. he calls together his friends and neighbours to rejoice with him over the heart that has come home. When was the last time you considered that you could give joy to God? When have we considered that coming home to God, turning our hearts toward him, and letting Him bring us home?
This little section is part of three parables, the final one is the parable of prodigal son. Like the parable of the prodigal son, we tend to leave our focus on the wrong part. We think of the lost sheep, the lost coin. Instead, let us think about the found sheep and the found coin;
Nor are the parables about the scolding shepherd, the frustrated woman. Instead, it’s about the rejoicing shepherd, the rejoicing woman.
What do the shepherd and the woman do? they call together their friends and neighbours to rejoice and celebrate over what they found. I’m sure the sheep and coin were not expecting such a welcome. And often we don’t either. What can we expect when we turn our hearts toward God, toward He who is our true home? We find ourselves in the centre of a celebration. We are not held up as examples or warnings or case studies, instead , we are held up as the cause of God’s joy -
15:10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
God’s joy – a joy which is infectious and spreads out among all his “friends and neighbours”.
Think of what Jesus is telling us in these parables. Feeling tired and weary? He’ll carry you. Feeling lost? He’ll find you. Feeling tarnished? He will polish you. Feeling lonely? He’ll call all his friends and neighbours over. Feeling insignificant? He’ll make you the centre of his attention. Feeling worthless? He’ll show you that you precious in his sight.
Feeling insecure? You are carried on his shoulders, and sheltered in the palm of his hand.
15 “The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”.
15” The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”.
It has come to be known as part of a small collection of verses known as the “Comfortable Words” found in the BCP Communion Service. Like John 3:16, it gives us a summary of why Jesus came. We hear the phrase “save sinners”, and we are perhaps not sure what it means. Well, today’s gospel reading tells us what this little verse means. What does it look like when Christ Jesus comes into the world to save sinners? I suggest we do a little refresher based on the Three R’s :
Relationship
Repentance
Rejoicing
The first R is Relationship.
At the beginning of this gospel we see that the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near to Jesus to listen to what he was saying. Apparently whatever Jesus was selling, they were buying; whatever Jesus was teaching, they were willing to learn, and whatever Jesus was saying, they were listening. The beginning of relationship is just talking – Jesus is having a conversation with these notorious folks. And the Pharisees and scribes fill in the picture for us a bit more: "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Jesus does more than just lecture to the sinners and tax collectors. He spends time with them, welcoming them and sitting down and enjoying a meal with them, Jesus wants to build friendship, trust, relationship with them.
It’s fairly evident that the Pharisees are not really interested in that sort of thing. But Jesus is. God is deeply interested in relationships: both those we share among one another, and the relationship we share with Him.
When we look at the parables Jesus tells, what is the outcome? The shepherd calls together his friends and neighbours; the woman of the house calls together her friends and neighbours.. Relationships are the building blocks of the Church.
The second R is Repentance.
So what was Jesus saying to the tax collectors and sinners that made them want to stay listen to him? The two parables he tells give us a hint: A sheep gets lost, a coin gets lost, a heart gets lost.
15:3 So he told them this parable:
15:4 "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them,
does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?
15:5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices.
15:6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.
15:7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
The shepherd doesn’t tell us how the sheep got lost. he doesn’t say whether the sheep wandered off on its own, or gradually strayed little by little, or got scared by something and disappeared. The shepherd doesn’t give us the details of how far the sheep had wandered. No, the shepherd is not interested in us knowing those details.
Jesus tells us that the shepherd does not cut his losses. After all, losing only one out of a hundred is pretty good. Why not just let it go? The shepherd cares for the one. He is willing to pursue it wherever it has gone, now matter how far. He wants that one.
And what does he do when he finds it? He carries it home on his shoulders. And that is at the heart of repentance: It is not about punishment for wrongdoing, or excessive guilt over our faults; it is not about wringing our hands in self pity: it is about coming home. Coming Home on the shoulders of the Good Shepherd. Repent, and turn toward Home. And if you don’t think you can get there, don’t worry, the shepherd will carry you there himself. All sin is a wandering of the heart away from God. All repentance is a turning and being carried homeward; back to the One who made us; home to the one who loves us. Jesus came to carry us home.
15:8 "Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?
15:9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.'
15:10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
What about the lost coin? The coin is lost inside the house. Maybe you don’t have to wander out of the sheepfold in order to be lost. Maybe you can be lost right in the midst of the house – even in the midst of the house of God. And what does this woman do? She searches, she sweeps, she looks in every nook and cranny. She gets down and dirty, prying and looking in cracks and crevices until she finds the coin – because she knows it is valuable. We aren’t told how tarnished the coin is when she finds it. We aren’t told where it rolled to. We are only told that it was lost, and she will not stop searching until she finds it. Like the shepherd, she is not content to cut her losses and just let it go. She wants it, it is hers, and when she finds it I’m certain that she hold it in her hand, cleaning and polishing it until it shines like new. It is back with her, where it belongs.
The third R is Rejoicing:
And what does he do when he find the sheep? He puts it on his shoulders and rejoices. He knows the sheep is frightened, and has lost its way. He knows the sheep is tired, and doesn’t have the strength to make its way home. And so he carries it, on his shoulders, rejoicing.
And what about the coin? Where is the coin? It’s in her hand. Held in her hand. Think about that. Held in the hand of God, who has been looking and searching, for you.
God’s joy is infectious. he calls together his friends and neighbours to rejoice with him over the heart that has come home. When was the last time you considered that you could give joy to God? When have we considered that coming home to God, turning our hearts toward him, and letting Him bring us home?
This little section is part of three parables, the final one is the parable of prodigal son. Like the parable of the prodigal son, we tend to leave our focus on the wrong part. We think of the lost sheep, the lost coin. Instead, let us think about the found sheep and the found coin;
Nor are the parables about the scolding shepherd, the frustrated woman. Instead, it’s about the rejoicing shepherd, the rejoicing woman.
What do the shepherd and the woman do? they call together their friends and neighbours to rejoice and celebrate over what they found. I’m sure the sheep and coin were not expecting such a welcome. And often we don’t either. What can we expect when we turn our hearts toward God, toward He who is our true home? We find ourselves in the centre of a celebration. We are not held up as examples or warnings or case studies, instead , we are held up as the cause of God’s joy -
15:10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
God’s joy – a joy which is infectious and spreads out among all his “friends and neighbours”.
Think of what Jesus is telling us in these parables. Feeling tired and weary? He’ll carry you. Feeling lost? He’ll find you. Feeling tarnished? He will polish you. Feeling lonely? He’ll call all his friends and neighbours over. Feeling insignificant? He’ll make you the centre of his attention. Feeling worthless? He’ll show you that you precious in his sight.
Feeling insecure? You are carried on his shoulders, and sheltered in the palm of his hand.
15 “The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Multi purpose lunch this sunday
Just a quick reminder that we will be having a multi-purpose potluck this coming Sunday, September 16, after the 10 am service.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
SErmon notes: Pentecost 13; Luke 14: 1, 7-14
preamble:
Most times when the lectionary leaves out a bit, it is usually a tale of woe or some such equivalent. This week's "official" reading is Luke 14:1, 7-14. Which of course leaves out verses 2-6. I wonder if the modern editors simply did not think that this passage "belongs" in this story.
The main story is about Jesus coming to a banquet at the Pharisee's house, and what he says there. The little interruption comes in the form of a miracle of healing on the Sabbath - the man with the withered hand. So it makes sense that this interruption is dropped from the reading, right? I mean, after all, we are never interrupted. At least not that we notice. By people who need help. As we are on our way to a banquet. On the Sabbath.
One of the things that sort of bothers me about the editing out of 2-6 in the lectionary version is simply that at the end of the parable, Jesus makes explicit reference to inviting the lame and the crippled; and yet a story which relates to one of them is edited out. It strikes me that to edit this passage on the basis of having covered the same material last week is to miss the point that last week's story focussed on healing on the sabbath in a synagogue, while this encounter happens precisely as they are going to a banquet - a banquet to which it does not appear the lame man is invited, which is exactly the point The editing treats the episode as merely another type of sabbath healing, which I suggest is insufficient. I suggest the editing also treats people in the gospel merely as "types" and not as persons - "we had a crippled healed last week, we don't need to cover that ground again."
Luke 14:1, 7-14
[blessed are those who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb]
14:1 On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely.
The very first line of this morning’s Gospel reading actually gives us something to think about: Luke tells us that as Jesus was going off to the Pharisee’s house to have a Sabbath meal, “they were watching him closely”. That is a rather obvious way of saying that they were paying attention to every detail of what Jesus was doing and saying; a cynic or a realist might say that they were spying on him.
But at least they go this right, whatever their motives might have been: it is important to watch Jesus closely, to pay attention to the details of what he says and how he acts; to keep our eyes attentively on him. We might follow their example, but with a different motive in mind.
14:7 When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable.
It appears that Jesus is also paying close attention – he is watching how the guests tend to choose the “places of honour”. Not only are people watching Jesus closely, but he as well is watching them closely. Jesus notices the details of people’s lives – the guests who come to the Pharisee’s house, how they act, what they do. And Jesus is watching still – he notices the details of our lives.
14:8 "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; 14:9 and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, 'Give this person your place,' and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place.
As Jesus is watching , he notices and comments on one general tendency which we humans have: - we tend to assume that we are more important than we really are. Surely there can’t be anyone more important than me coming to this banquet, right? I deserve this place of honour at the high table. I should be publicly recognized for the great person I am. I have the right to take whatever seat I want.
This is when self esteem crosses the line and becomes pride – the deadliest of spiritual diseases. Jesus shows us what happens when pride goes public. It results in the guests thinking that they are running the wedding banquet. They essentially try to take over what belongs to the host. Only the host can hand out the seats. yet these guests have such a high opinion of themselves that they expect everyone else to share that opinion. It is a case of “Look at me; I am important here and you all should take notice.”
But, Jesus goes on, what happens if the host should arrive and actually tell the guest: “You’re in the wrong place, I actually want someone else to sit here.”
In the kingdom of God things often work in an upside down-fashion. If you want a place of honour, you can only get to it by being humble. And if you live in humility, then you will end up being honoured. If you seek public recognition and glory and applause from others, you will end up without it. But if you seek only to love and to serve, you will end up getting glory and applause from the One who really matters – from God.
14:10 But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher'; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you.
How many of us would naturally choose to sit at “the lowest place”? And it is here that perhaps the highest form of honour occurs: the host comes and says “Friend”. What higher honour could there being than being called “friend” by the host of the banquet?
14:11 For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
Here we see that there is a certain amount of paradox in the Kingdom of God, some things don’t work quite the same way that we would expect them to work. And the kingdom of God is full of these sorts of things: love your enemies; give away your possessions in order to be rich; the first will be last and the last will be first;
14:12 He said also to the one who had invited him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. [13] But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. [14] And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
Jesus is warning us against the “what’s in for me?” syndrome. That is, our generosity can be conditioned by expecting something in return. And we won’t give, unless we are sure we can get something in return.
Instead, Jesus gives us another example of “kingdom thinking”, and a picture of grace. There are two senses: yes, Jesus does mean for us to invite “the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind”. And to see ourselves as the poor and blind invited to the wedding banquet. In giving to those who cannot repay we imitate God, who gave to us what we cannot repay.
Most times when the lectionary leaves out a bit, it is usually a tale of woe or some such equivalent. This week's "official" reading is Luke 14:1, 7-14. Which of course leaves out verses 2-6. I wonder if the modern editors simply did not think that this passage "belongs" in this story.
The main story is about Jesus coming to a banquet at the Pharisee's house, and what he says there. The little interruption comes in the form of a miracle of healing on the Sabbath - the man with the withered hand. So it makes sense that this interruption is dropped from the reading, right? I mean, after all, we are never interrupted. At least not that we notice. By people who need help. As we are on our way to a banquet. On the Sabbath.
One of the things that sort of bothers me about the editing out of 2-6 in the lectionary version is simply that at the end of the parable, Jesus makes explicit reference to inviting the lame and the crippled; and yet a story which relates to one of them is edited out. It strikes me that to edit this passage on the basis of having covered the same material last week is to miss the point that last week's story focussed on healing on the sabbath in a synagogue, while this encounter happens precisely as they are going to a banquet - a banquet to which it does not appear the lame man is invited, which is exactly the point The editing treats the episode as merely another type of sabbath healing, which I suggest is insufficient. I suggest the editing also treats people in the gospel merely as "types" and not as persons - "we had a crippled healed last week, we don't need to cover that ground again."
Luke 14:1, 7-14
[blessed are those who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb]
14:1 On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely.
The very first line of this morning’s Gospel reading actually gives us something to think about: Luke tells us that as Jesus was going off to the Pharisee’s house to have a Sabbath meal, “they were watching him closely”. That is a rather obvious way of saying that they were paying attention to every detail of what Jesus was doing and saying; a cynic or a realist might say that they were spying on him.
But at least they go this right, whatever their motives might have been: it is important to watch Jesus closely, to pay attention to the details of what he says and how he acts; to keep our eyes attentively on him. We might follow their example, but with a different motive in mind.
14:7 When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable.
It appears that Jesus is also paying close attention – he is watching how the guests tend to choose the “places of honour”. Not only are people watching Jesus closely, but he as well is watching them closely. Jesus notices the details of people’s lives – the guests who come to the Pharisee’s house, how they act, what they do. And Jesus is watching still – he notices the details of our lives.
14:8 "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; 14:9 and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, 'Give this person your place,' and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place.
As Jesus is watching , he notices and comments on one general tendency which we humans have: - we tend to assume that we are more important than we really are. Surely there can’t be anyone more important than me coming to this banquet, right? I deserve this place of honour at the high table. I should be publicly recognized for the great person I am. I have the right to take whatever seat I want.
This is when self esteem crosses the line and becomes pride – the deadliest of spiritual diseases. Jesus shows us what happens when pride goes public. It results in the guests thinking that they are running the wedding banquet. They essentially try to take over what belongs to the host. Only the host can hand out the seats. yet these guests have such a high opinion of themselves that they expect everyone else to share that opinion. It is a case of “Look at me; I am important here and you all should take notice.”
But, Jesus goes on, what happens if the host should arrive and actually tell the guest: “You’re in the wrong place, I actually want someone else to sit here.”
In the kingdom of God things often work in an upside down-fashion. If you want a place of honour, you can only get to it by being humble. And if you live in humility, then you will end up being honoured. If you seek public recognition and glory and applause from others, you will end up without it. But if you seek only to love and to serve, you will end up getting glory and applause from the One who really matters – from God.
14:10 But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher'; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you.
How many of us would naturally choose to sit at “the lowest place”? And it is here that perhaps the highest form of honour occurs: the host comes and says “Friend”. What higher honour could there being than being called “friend” by the host of the banquet?
14:11 For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
Here we see that there is a certain amount of paradox in the Kingdom of God, some things don’t work quite the same way that we would expect them to work. And the kingdom of God is full of these sorts of things: love your enemies; give away your possessions in order to be rich; the first will be last and the last will be first;
14:12 He said also to the one who had invited him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. [13] But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. [14] And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
Jesus is warning us against the “what’s in for me?” syndrome. That is, our generosity can be conditioned by expecting something in return. And we won’t give, unless we are sure we can get something in return.
Instead, Jesus gives us another example of “kingdom thinking”, and a picture of grace. There are two senses: yes, Jesus does mean for us to invite “the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind”. And to see ourselves as the poor and blind invited to the wedding banquet. In giving to those who cannot repay we imitate God, who gave to us what we cannot repay.
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