Luke 14:1, 7-14 (NRSV)
Read Luke 14:1, 7-14 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 14On 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.
Verse 7When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. Verse 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; Verse 9and 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. Verse 10But 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. Verse 11For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." Verse 12He 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. Verse 13But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Verse 14And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
Devotion
How do we experience the power of the resurrection in our lives? Why do we have a need to seek places of honor and the respect of others, especially from those who are in a position to benefit us? Is it simply human nature? Is it how we were created? Or are we part of a new creation? Jesus offers us a new way to see ourselves in the midst of a world where status is everything. As long as one person suffers, the entire kingdom of God suffers. We have no need to exalt ourselves because we know that God will take care of God’s own. The power of the resurrection in our lives helps us see through the indifferent things of this world, like social standing, and into the heart of Jesus Christ which is unending love.
Prayer
Gracious God of the lowly and exalted, we pray that we may be more aware of the power of the resurrection in our lives; a power to lift the lowly, to provide for those in need, and to share your unending love with all the world. Amen.