The place of honour

“It is better to deserve honours and not have them than to have them and not deserve them.” - Mark Twain

As you read this quote, think on it in line with the following challenge from Jesus:

Luke 14:7-10 - When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honour, he told them a parable. "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honour, 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 honoured in the presence of all who sit at the table with you.

Is there a clear message in this for us as individuals or even as communities?

Are we as 'the church' also guilty of this in some way?

Living in Grace

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Who is watching who?

"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." - Luke 14:1

The great irony of Jesus sharing a meal with the Pharisee was that although he was being watched very carefully, Jesus was equally observant about their behaviour. This is why he asked them a very challenging question concerning the man who had dropsy (v.2-3). Matthew Henry comments on this verse by arguing:

"Even in the common actions of life, Christ marks what we do, not only in our religious assemblies, but at our tables." 

This challenges us to include Christ in all aspects of our lives and not just at the 'religious' moments in our communities. We may be able to fool some people during our religious moments, but we can't fool God when we live the rest of the week. 

"The one you are looking for is the one who is looking." - St. Francis of Assisi 

Living in Grace

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It is not easy

In his book Why, O Lord, Carlo Caretto contemplates how difficult it is to truly follow Jesus.

"Goodness! How difficult it is to believe in the sort of Messiah that Jesus of Nazareth represents!
To believe that we win by losing our very selves!
To believe that love is everything.
To believe that power is a great danger, that wealth is slavery,
and a comfortable life is a misfortune.
IT IS NOT EASY!"

This is why Jesus made it clear to his followers that they were choosing the hard option and that it would involved a lot of sacrifice and trouble.

Luke 14:25-27 -  "Large crowds were travelling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple."

What are your thoughts on the words of Caretto and Jesus.

Living in Grace
D3LM3