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Morning Meditation
October 31, 2026
Reading: Luke 14:1,7-11
‘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 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.’
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Meditation: Jo Ann B. Jones
Deidre Goode, Professor of New Testament at The General Theological School in New York made this observation about the Gospel according to Luke: Luke liked to eat. That explained the number of occasions when one would find Jesus at a meal, even though Jesus himself rarely participated in eating. This meal, served at a table, seemed to represent for Jesus the occasion to observe a community, its members and their behavior, their fellowship and their backgrounds. The meal in this parable offers a range of persons and their “social standing.” It is this variety that gives rise to Jesus’ observations and teaching.
Jesus notices that people at the meal “chose the places of honor;” in other words, they are seeking seats of status that demonstrate their rank or social standing based upon a hierarchy. It would be deeply shameful to sit at the places of honor, only to be moved to the lowest place. Jesus creates a parable of a “wedding banquet” where this kind of behavior is expressed to challenge the attentions and affections of those at table. In a way this behavior is not so different from way in which people today try to position themselves in places of status. Jesus invites us to join a larger community.
As the evening unfolds, the people are watching Jesus, who, in turn, begins to observe them - noting who is speaking with whom, where people are sitting, who is present and who is absent.
Rather than seeking positions that denote status, Jesus suggests that the religious leaders choose the lowest places. This would both stretch one’s understanding of the world seen from an entirely different perspective and status. That would better inform, in this case the religious leader, in how to form a relationship with such a person, how to honor that person’s life and experiences. His reasoning: “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” With closer observation and deeper regard for one who is in some ways different and yet not, those seemingly in a higher social position are brought up short in the profound vision of the subversive order of God’s reign. Certainly, Jesus’ ministry speaks to this. For Jesus does not offer instructions on how to climb the social ladder; rather, he invites us to live in a different world - the kingdom of God, where we can trust in God’s abundance. Here he upsets the social etiquette, pivoting to one much like the gathering of all the creatures on the Ark, where all are assembled cheek by jowl as in the creation, not based on any from of hierarchy, present to one another, all God’s creatures unknown to them heretofore. Here is the opportunity to be present without expectation of duty, reverence or obeisance. One must surrender one’s life to God in such a fashion that one is found in God’s presence, God is the Host and Guest. Here is a blessing that will be received in the future, one that human hands cannot bestow.
Prayer for the Future of the Human Race
O God our heavenly Father, you have blessed us and given us dominion over all the earth: Increase our reverence before the mystery of life; and give us new insight into your purposes for the human race, and new wisdom and determination in making provision for its future in accordance with your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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