URC Daily Devotion 29th March 2019

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.  Just then, in front of him, there was a man who had dropsy. And Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees, ‘Is it lawful to cure people on the sabbath, or not?’  But they were silent. So Jesus took him and healed him, and sent him away. Then he said to them, ‘If one of you has a child or an ox that has fallen into a well, will you not immediately pull it out on a sabbath day?’ And they could not reply to this. 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.  For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’ He 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 neighbours, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.’ One of the dinner guests, on hearing this, said to him, ‘Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!’  Then Jesus said to him, ‘Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, “Come; for everything is ready now.” But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, “I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my apologies.” Another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my apologies.” Another said, “I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come.” So the slave returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, “Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.”  And the slave said, “Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.” Then the master said to the slave, “Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.”’
Reflection
We are given a space today to reflect upon 24 verses from Luke’s Gospel. As we read the verses we find that they outline four stories which are linked by shared meals and that which is generally understood to be good etiquette by, as a minimum, the Jewish community of the time.

It is easy, and legitimate, to take and explore each segment however I am minded to explore why they may have been placed together or is it simply a reflection of historic accuracy? That does not seem likely to me. Rather, I believe that the passage discloses some fundamental truths about identity, both Jesus’ and ours as disciples. It is also the first text which I began to understand as the Jesus Manifesto.

Healing on the Sabbath is no big issue when seen as part of a fulfilment of the Messianic hope. It is a statement of the nature of the Messiah and the Realm of God and points forward to that great feast where all are welcome.

And so we are led to explore and reflect on guidelines for hospitality, both for the host and the guest. The message is that all must be included and made welcome.

Let us pray using the words of Shirley Erena Murray’s hymn:

“For everyone born, a place at the table,
for everyone born,
clean water and bread,
a shelter, a space,
a safe place for growing,
for everyone born, a star overhead,
and God will delight
when we are creators
of justice and joy,
compassion and peace:”
   
Community building God
help me to see you
in the other
and show you in me to others.  Amen

Today’s Writer

The Rev’d Helen M Mee, Synod of Scotland

Bible Version

 

New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Bible: © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved