Hosting banquets
by Carolyn Ehrlich
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But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind (Luke 14:13).
Today’s reading starts with an instruction to be humble when we are invited to banquets and feasts. But then it goes on to instruct us about what we need to do when we are hosting. We are to host those who are less fortunate than ourselves, and we are to esteem them. We need to be careful here – careful to attend to our own pride and careful about our own humility. We should be genuine and authentic when we invite people less fortunate than ourselves to our banquets – lest we become proud and self-righteous.
Some of us will be in fortunate and privileged situations in life – we will have received accolades and honour for what we have done with the God-given talents we have been blessed with. Some of us will be less fortunate. Some of us will be among the poor and those with disabilities – both physically and spiritually. Look around. What are you doing? Irrespective of where you see yourself in this scenario, where are you seating yourself at the banquets and feasts of others? Who are you hosting?
If you can personally host others, what are you doing to host the poor, crippled, lame and blind? If you are hosting others as a church, then what are you doing in your community to host the physically and spiritually poor, crippled, lame and blind?
How do you look at people who are physically and spiritually afflicted? What is your perspective? Do you welcome them authentically, or do you welcome them at the same time as giving yourself a ‘pat on the back’? Are you humble? What are the quiet, authentic, genuine, Christ-like ways that you can do help others? Look around this week. Lift your gaze beyond what you usually do, and explore what is possible to host others who are less fortunate or privileged than you, or indeed those who might appear to be more fortunate than you but are spiritually disabled.
Father God, you have instructed us to be humble and invite the poor and those who live with disabilities and afflictions into our churches, homes and hearts. Jesus, you showed us how to love authentically and tend to those who are less fortunate than ourselves. As I step into your world today, show me who you are connecting me with and putting in my path, so I might humbly give to them whatever it is that you want them to have. In Jesus’ awesome name, I pray, Amen.
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