“Finding Our Place” – Sermon on Sept. 1, 2013
September 1, 2013
Scripture: Luke 14: 7-14
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. When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. “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; 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. 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.”
Sermon: Finding Our Place
By Rev. Doreen Oughton
You know what this scripture makes me think of? The school cafeteria. Right? Do you remember? I must admit my own memories of the school cafeteria are a little hazy, but I sure do recall my daughter’s stories about who was sitting with whom at lunch and what it all meant. Who could assume a place at the table, who was a wannabe, who sat alone, who was being snubbed. In this passage, it seems Jesus says don’t be a wannabe – don’t go to the popular table to claim your spot. Because how humiliating it would be if they out and out tell you that you don’t belong there, that you’ve taken someone else’s spot. No, no. To preserve your dignity you should go sit alone, or with the not-so-cool kids. Then perhaps some other wannabe will be sent away to make room for you. What glory will be yours then. Yes, that sounds like Jesus – not.
So what is going on here? Why does Jesus seem to be giving advice on how to be exalted rather than humiliated? We are told that Jesus has been invited to a banquet at the home of a Pharisee, that he is being watched, and that he is watching. When he sees how people are taking their places, he tells them a parable. Now a parable is not the same as advice, not a how-to guide, but a story that is meant to challenge our assumptions and to get us to think differently. I believe Jesus was trying to tell us something about how to treat one another. What will ultimately exalt us is what exalts God – living in the beloved community, bringing about the kindom that is right here within and among us.
This is a parable about being humble, or having the quality of humility. Now some believe that to be humble is to think less of yourself, and in a way that is true. It is not to think your value is any less than that of any other, but to think of yourself – your comfort, your desires, your opinions, your well being – less often and with less interest. I believe that to be truly humble takes a great confidence in one’s relationship with God. Humility is not about looking down on oneself, but on looking up toward God, if you will. Maybe not up, but looking toward God with trust in God’s providence and with a spirit of service.
A person who is secure in God’s love, who understands that this is the source of all good things, the source of all that is really needed in the beloved community, is unafraid to share this love with others. In fact feels he or she must share this love with others. A person who is confident in God’s regard, who feels so blessed by it, can’t help but be so grateful that she wants to serve God by serving God’s people. A person who deeply understands that he is of God has no problem giving up any seats of earthly honor. A person like this will want to build up the esteem of those around him, will look for gifts in others and work to bring them out. A person who does not seek her own exaltation in these small human ways, will always find herself exalted as she understands that exaltation is completely connected to seeing oneself as part of a much larger whole that contains everyone and everything else. Exaltation is completely connected to the larger whole that is God.
It’s not about gaining a reward for doing the right thing. When you lift up someone who, in worldly ways, can’t repay you, it is a demonstration of your understanding that we are one, that you can be self-giving without losing anything important. When you experience that human pang of wanting recognition and affirmation of your value, you turn to God with gratitude and a spirit of service and you might find just what you need by offering it to another. That’s the way it works in God’s economy – this is the way of the Triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit all honoring one another, all exalting one another, all affirming the goodness and value of all that was created in this great Spirit of Love. May we all find ourselves there, singing in exaltation.
