Sermon by Stuart Pike

Photo Credit: Sandy Darling

Sermon Text:

Today's Gospel lesson is about humility. The setting of the Gospel story is a party which Simon, a leader of the Pharisees is holding. It is a Sabbath and the Pharisees are watching Jesus closely to see what he will do? Will he heal on a Sabbath. What new outrageous thing will he say? Jesus has already developed a reputation.

Jesus speaks about humility.

The greatest lessons I’ve learned about humility have been taught to me in the presence of humble people. When I think of feasts, I think of some which I have been to in the third world. I remember a feast in the Philippines where most of us sat cross-legged on the floor and ate our rice with our hands with folded banana leaves as plates. I had been staying with my hosts in a small village far off the electrical grid. A people who ate only of the produce of their fields, and what they traded that produce for. These wonderful people invited me and shared what they had with me. They welcomed me into their midst. Now that was a lesson in humility for me. I, from a very wealthy country was being fed by people who own so very little.

One of the problems with Jesus telling us to be humble, is that we don't really understand what humility really is. So many seem to think that humility is about putting yourself down. About denying your gifts, about thinking that you're not worthy to do this or that etc. That isn’t humility at all. If one has a gift and yet denies it, that is putting God down: that's not using you're God-given gift as God would have you do. God made you - if you put yourself down, that reflects badly on the manufacturer.

Humility isn't about putting yourself down, rather it's about bringing other people up. Humility isn't about denying your own gift, but it is about recognizing and encouraging others’ gifts.

Jesus gives two parables that show ways that people try to achieve recognition in opposition to the principle of humility. The first way is to jockey for position at the places of honour. One might try to sit close to the host, or in a round about way, someone might choose a lower place with the desperate hope that the host will raise him or her up and so get even greater honour. Neither one of these behaviours are humble. These behaviours are about putting oneself forward and putting others down to do it.

In the second parable, the host might seek honour by inviting the right people to the banquet. Having parties with people of honour in society looks good on you. Besides, perhaps they'll invite you back. The problem with this behaviour is not with who gets invited, but with who gets excluded. This is again trying to put oneself forward by disregarding others.

But these stories are more than just lessons on manners. They are parables about the kingdom too. When Jesus tells stories about a banquet, they always give glimpses of the kingdom. These are stories which tell us how God treats people in his kingdom. This is how God thinks about people. In fact, God shows particular partiality towards the poor, the weak, the lowly, the lame. Those on the outskirts, or even on the outside of society. God doesn't do this to put down the rich and lofty - but it appears that God thinks it is the poor that need to be lifted up, and so need special attention. The fact is that God accepts all people into the kingdom without regard to their station in life. Everyone - you are invited.

When we read these parables knowing that they are stories about the Kingdom of God, we realize that it is we who are counted among the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. Jesus is telling us to do that which God does: invites us all in, no matter who we are. God shows no partiality. We realize that we are included because it is God’s nature to be gracious.

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