March 10, 2006	Read Luke 14:7-14
“For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
A FEAST OF FOOLS Imagine Jesus and his close followers being invited to dinner with the Pharisees. I am sure the disciples thought they had finally made the big time. After traveling from town to town, living by meager means, without creature comforts, they must have welcomed this change. This would have been a society party, with guests taking social climbing to a new art form, each attempting to get the best seat in house, to prove how important they were. I can picture Peter or Thomas with a glass of wine, enjoying the aroma of good food, mingling with the town’s elite.  Just then, Jesus launched into this parable: “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor …” Immediately, the twelve must have thought, “Oh no, here we go again,” and started looking for the exits. There can be little doubt the words were designed to insult those who had invited them. There must have been a very uncomfortable silence. Jesus had just put the religious leaders in their place. This was not the only time Jesus spoke of being humble. But humility is difficult, if not impossible, to put into daily practice. We all fail to some degree. The disciples who heard Jesus speak the lesson were later rebuked for arguing among themselves over who would be the greatest. We must remind ourselves of the words heard on Ash Wednesday: “Dust you are and to dust you will return.”  Lord, help us open ourselves to you, so that we might be granted humility. Save us from believing in our own self importance. Help us to accept humility as a gift and a blessing from you. We remember that your son, Jesus, humbled himself to death on a cross for our sins. Amen. Greg Keith

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