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| Illustration by Phil Younk |
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"Me first!” Were you thinking that as you rushed to be first in line or to get the best seat?
In this Sunday’s Gospel Jesus was having dinner at the home of an important Pharisee. He saw the guests trying to take the best seats.
St. Luke’s Gospel is filled with many accounts of meals Jesus shared with others. At each gathering Jesus used the time to teach Gospel values. This Sunday’s Gospel tells of such a teaching moment.
Jesus said, “When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the best place. Someone more important may have been invited. Then the one who invited you will come and say, ‘Give your place to this other guest.’ You will be embarrassed and will have to sit in the lowest place.
“When you are invited to be a guest, go and sit in the lowest place. Then the one who invited you may come and say, ‘My friend, take the better seat.’ You will then be honored in front of all the other guests. If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored.”
Then Jesus said, “Do not invite people to eat with you because you know they can invite you back. Be generous and invite those who cannot repay your kindness - really serve the poor and lonely. This is the way to be praised and satisfied. You will be rewarded for your goodness at the end of time.”
What is really praiseworthy is to forget all about being praised and just help other people with their needs. What is really satisfying is to forget about our own satisfaction and just make other people happy. This is what Jesus taught by word and example. It’s the exact opposite of what the world constantly tells us by commercials and otherwise - that “me” is first.
Every person is important and special to God. Jesus came to tell us God’s heavenly kingdom is for everyone and everyone is invited. Our hospitality is to be welcoming to all people, especially to those who are less fortunate and overlooked or ignored by selfish people who think only of themselves. Every place in God’s kingdom is a place of honor. That’s how much God loves each one of us.
(Couture is a catechist at St. Aloysius Parish, West Allis.)
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