THE GOSPEL OF LUKE: - Vital Christianity

89Jesus’ action was “unlawful” only according to rabbinic interpretation, not according tothe Mosaic law itself.The Pharisees, their name meaning “separated ones,” numbered about 6,000 and werespread over the whole of the Holy Land. They were teachers in the synagogues, religiousexamples in the eyes of the people, and self-appointed guardians of the law and its properobservance.Practicing hospitality is essentialPRACTICE HUMILITY (14:7-11)“When He noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, Hetold them this parable: ‘When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do nottake the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may havebeen invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you,'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the leastimportant place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that whenyour host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Thenyou will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. For everyonewho exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will beexalted" (Lk 14:7-11).While there is nothing wrong in being placed in a position of honor by others, it is wrongto seek such a place. The law of humility and the love of order should guide what is proper inany given situation. To take the highest place when it is not our due is vanity and to obstinatelyrefuse it when offered is another instance of the same vice, even if it is private and concealed inthe heart. Humility is as careful to avoid the ostentation of a refusal as it is to seek a superiorplace. In this parable Jesus actually repeats what the rabbis had taught their pupils but were tooproud to practice themselves.The irony here is that the Pharisees invited the man with dropsy to the dinner partynot because he was welcome, but to trap Jesus. And this man would be a good candidate foran invitation to such a dinner.Taking the "lowest seat at a banquet" in the hope that you will be exalted in front ofothers is not humility.Welcoming only those that you like does not constitute hospitality.