The irony of the statement

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. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." Luke 14

This field is rich. The Gospel reading for Sept 2nd is one which is so incredibly rich. It leaves me a bit speachless in thinking of the possibilities for preaching. There is the virtue of humility...Jesus has joined the priests of his day. They are living a life in service of God and at their feet is God incarnate. The parable itself is indicative of their situation. The groom is at hand. The one who will be invited to sit higher up is literally sitting in the lowest place and they can not see it. The Gospel also contains the injunction to serve the "least of these." I know it pinches my feet as I begin to enter deeply into the world of church. It pinches because church and the least of these can be two different worlds. How often am I among those who can not repay? There is the fact that we tend to remember through history those who lifted up their fellows rather than the tyrants who exalt themselves. Our hero's both religious and secular tend to be those who did not seek out power and position for themselves but those who sought to increase the lives of those around them.

There is the fact that there is no guarantee that when you sit in the lowest place that the host will even invite you to some higher place. This passage says "may." There is no immediate gratification in seeking the lowest place. When we choose to sit there we should expect to stay there for it will be false humility to sit in a position of service only to expect to sit somewhere higher. Either we will be found out or we will resent the Host. Neither reveals a willingness to follow God's will. Both reveals a type of pride. The man or woman serving God so he or she will get later riches or honor has not chosen the lowest seat.

There in this particular passage is the metaphorical "all" who sit with you. There are many who are at the table. They to have been invited. They have not come to honor us but the host of the party. Our own ego can not diminish their invitation or their very sitting by expecting that the Host will somehow favor us over others. How often have I heard snide remarks about "those" Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, or Baptist? How often has it been I who has snubbed?

Rich, rich indeed.