Word to the Wise
Saturday, October 30, 2021 - Saturday in the 30th Week in Ordinary Time
[Rom 11:1-2a, 11-12, 25-29 and Luke 14:1, 7-11]"When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, 'Give your place to this man,' and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. Rather, when you are invited, go take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, 'My friend, move up to a higher position.' Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and but one who humbles himself will be exalted." [Luke]
Society in Jesus' time was very class and status oriented! (Is it any different now?). The question of "honor" entered into all kinds of interactions from banquets to business dealings [cf. Luke 16:1-13]. It was a matter of concern to Jesus' own disciples. James and John asked for preferred seating in Jesus' kingdom! [Mark 10:37-40] Perhaps one reason fund raisers are discovering during the pandemic that some folks prefer "virtual banquets" is to avoid all the fuss and bother about seating! Head tables are a special kind of suffering in my experience.
In the scene in today's gospel, Jesus' statements could be taken as shrewd social strategy, but a "wedding banquet" is also a symbol of his kingdom! That is the most likely reason the evangelist included this story in his gospel. Earthly status can be a trap when it comes to Jesus' kingdom. The challenge is not to "out-humble" one another, but realize that what we regard as ego-stroking status is of no use to a true disciple. This requires that we know ourselves well and watch for those little indications that desire for "status" can take hold in our lives. Everyone is "honorable" at the wedding banquet in the Kingdom of God. AMEN