Message from the Pastor
Rev. John B. Bateman
A Few Words from the Pastor
Weekly Reflection: The word “humility” derives from the Latin adjective humilis, which means on the ground, of the earth (the noun is humus: ground, earth or some pretty good chick-pea paste). In the Gospel toady Jesus uses two very familiar social situations – dining at table and guest invitation lists – to teach us about true humility. From the point of view of being guest, humility is knowing one’s place; from the point of view of being host, humility is knowing whom to invite (and with whom to be in relationship). The two parables prod us to see both of these as aspects of humility, of authentic Christian self-understanding.
The first parable about wedding guests invites us to reflect on humility as knowing ourselves in relation to others. The “wedding banquet” imagery is eschatological (meaning related to the end times): we think of God as the host and the wedding banquet as the Lord’s heavenly banquet. As we noted last weekend in the homily, we are all invited to the banquet (offered salvation), but we must remember that it is God who invites. Our own relation to God is as those who are poor; we cannot “buy” our place in heaven. Humility is recognizing that by God’s choosing we are raised up to share in divine riches and bestowed the great dignity of sharing in God’s life. If this is how God relates to us, then this is how the disciple must relate to others. AS God has bestowed dignity on us, so do we shower others with dignity.
The second parable about hosts invites us to reflect on humility in terms of how we wish God to relate to us. We know we are poor (a metaphor for sinners). God extends an invitation to the banquet not only to those who seem worthy but also to all who would respond. No one is excluded from the banquet. Neither should we exclude others from our own attention and ministry. If we wish God to invite us who are poor to the divine banquet, then we also extend ourselves to all others, regardless of social or economic class, religious affiliation, gender or any other “classification.”
In the Gospel the people dining with Jesus were “observing Him carefully.” What Jesus says turns the tables by inviting the guests to look at themselves. Jesus challenges them to choose, not a “higher position,” but a “lower place,” teaching us who we are to be before God and each other. Jesus calls us to true humility: to know the truth about ourselves, to sit in right relationship with one another, and to allow ourselves to be lifted up by God.
A Few Words from the Pastor
Weekly Reflection: The word “humility” derives from the Latin adjective humilis, which means on the ground, of the earth (the noun is humus: ground, earth or some pretty good chick-pea paste). In the Gospel toady Jesus uses two very familiar social situations – dining at table and guest invitation lists – to teach us about true humility. From the point of view of being guest, humility is knowing one’s place; from the point of view of being host, humility is knowing whom to invite (and with whom to be in relationship). The two parables prod us to see both of these as aspects of humility, of authentic Christian self-understanding.
The first parable about wedding guests invites us to reflect on humility as knowing ourselves in relation to others. The “wedding banquet” imagery is eschatological (meaning related to the end times): we think of God as the host and the wedding banquet as the Lord’s heavenly banquet. As we noted last weekend in the homily, we are all invited to the banquet (offered salvation), but we must remember that it is God who invites. Our own relation to God is as those who are poor; we cannot “buy” our place in heaven. Humility is recognizing that by God’s choosing we are raised up to share in divine riches and bestowed the great dignity of sharing in God’s life. If this is how God relates to us, then this is how the disciple must relate to others. AS God has bestowed dignity on us, so do we shower others with dignity.
The second parable about hosts invites us to reflect on humility in terms of how we wish God to relate to us. We know we are poor (a metaphor for sinners). God extends an invitation to the banquet not only to those who seem worthy but also to all who would respond. No one is excluded from the banquet. Neither should we exclude others from our own attention and ministry. If we wish God to invite us who are poor to the divine banquet, then we also extend ourselves to all others, regardless of social or economic class, religious affiliation, gender or any other “classification.”
In the Gospel the people dining with Jesus were “observing Him carefully.” What Jesus says turns the tables by inviting the guests to look at themselves. Jesus challenges them to choose, not a “higher position,” but a “lower place,” teaching us who we are to be before God and each other. Jesus calls us to true humility: to know the truth about ourselves, to sit in right relationship with one another, and to allow ourselves to be lifted up by God.