Saturday 05 November 2011

Background

Luke may have collected together a number of 'feast' narrativeshere; but it is not impossible that what is described happened at asingle very interesting meal.

Some Pharisees who had invited Jesus to share a meal so they couldwatch him closely. Jesus heals a man and sends him on his way sochallenging the Pharisees about the value of human life compared tothe way they were allowed to care for their animals and children onthe Sabbath. Surely they should also allow help and healing to aman. I suppose we would say today that human life has worth. Notsurprisingly the Pharisees had no answer.

After watching the guests arrive Jesus tells a parable about theneed for humility, using the image of a wedding banquet. Atbanquets the basic item of furniture was a three-personed couch, anumber of which were placed in a U-shape. Guests reclined on theirleft elbows, with the place of highest honour being at the centreof the base of the U. Guests arrived and there may have been ascramble to sit as near as possible to that centre. But Jesus tellsthose at the feast that the ones who are genuinely humble will findtheir true place in life.

This is not the conventional wisdom or the way of the world, whichreminds us that this seems to be the way Jesus constantly conductshimself.

Perhaps Jesus is using this situation as an acted parable in thehope that people would be challenged about their attitude andbehaviour to others.

To Ponder

If you were at this wedding banquet, where wouldyou have headed? And what do you think Jesus might have been sayingto you?

Thank God for the people you have known who havelived with genuine humility and from whom you have learnt somuch.

Is there anyone that God is asking you to servetoday? Who? And how?