Aug
16

(Sunday XXII – C) Dining With Jesus (Luke 14:1-14)

As Jesus nears the moment when he will celebrate his last supper with the disciples, he also begins to talk about the Messianic banquet. The occassion is a meal with certain leaders of the Pharisees. The episode begins with the healing of a man with dropsy,one of those who are thought to be unfit to join the banquet of the Messiah and enter into the Kingdom. What follows is a lesson — apparently — on good manners and right conduct around the dinner table. In fact, however, Jesus is teaching everyone how one should behave now so that they can join later in the banquet of the Messiah.

The Messianic banquet is a thing of the future, reserved only for those whom God loves. But even now we are given a foretaste of it in the Eucharistic table, the sacrament of our communion with Christ and our brothers and sisters.

Relevant Articles

Guide to the Reading of Luke 14:1.7-14

1. Using as criterion the change in characters, action and topic, divide Luke 14:1-14 into smaller sections. After dividing the text, try to figure out how the episode about the healing of a man with dropsy contributes to the overall message of the section.
2. Should Luke 14:15-24 also be considered as a part of verses 7-14? Explain your answer.
3. Luke 14:7-14 is a teaching on good manners and right conduct. The first part is for guests, and the second part is for the host. In the context formed by vv. 7-11, what does verse 11 mean? Does the verse "echo" other verses?
4. In the article mentioned above, there are three models of the resurrection mentioned. Which model underlies the statement of Jesus about "the resurrection of the just"?

Review of the Readings

The first reading taken from Sirach is an admonition to humility. "Humility" in wisdom circles is the attitude of the student towards his teachers. It is an attitude that is extended to daily affairs, and especially in public ones. Humility is valued in social interaction especially since no one really knows with whom one is dealing. More importantly, it is the fundamental attitude one should have before God. The admonition to humility is echoed in the gospel reading: "those who exalt themselves will be humbled, those who humble themselves will be exalted."

The second reading from Hebrews is somehow related to the gospel, since Mt. Zion is the place of the Messianic banquet. Note how the author describes in detail those who are inside the new Jerusalem and how they are gathered as for a feast. The Christian community’s pilgrimage is almost at an end, the city of God which the ancients greeted from afar, is now near at hand, and so they are to keep on heeding the warnings given to them. They however should be confident because of the blood of Jesus which eloquently speaks of forgiveness and reconciliation. Read more here.

Suggestions for the Lesson

1. One can take a hint from the second reading and use the liturgy as an occassion for explaining the Eucharist and how it is a reflection on earth of the worship rendered by the angels and the saints to God. The idea is found in Sacrosanctum Concilium:

In the earthly liturgy we take part in a foretaste of that heavenly liturgy which is celebrated in the Holy City of Jerusalem toward which we journey as pilgrims, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God, Minister of the holies and of the true tabernacle.[Cf. Revelation 21:2, Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 8:2] With all the warriors of the heavenly army we sing a hymn of glory to the Lord; venerating the memory of the saints, we hope for some part and fellowship with them; we eagerly await the Savior, Our Lord Jesus Christ, until he our life shall appear and we too will appear with him in glory.[Cf. Philippians 3:20; Colossians 3:4] (Sacrosanctum Concilium 8 )

2. One can also begin with the allussion to the "ethics of humility" underlined by the Lord and relate it to passages in Paul where Christian fellowship is made possible by people who are humble in their dealings with one another (cf. Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:12). And then one can relate the passage to the Eucharist, the high-point and sacrament of a life of communion shared by brothers and sisters who have learned to value the other more than oneself (cf. Philippians 3:6-11).

3. For the Filipino, the value of "amor propio" (self-respect) can be of help in developing Christian virtues. But it can also be exaggerated and become the source of pride and intolerance. Another good lesson for this Sunday is a catechism on "amor propio" understood as being the best one could be within the order established by God: God above all, man below God and all other things below man.In this hierarchy of values, one’s "amor propio" is relativized and ordered to the love of God and neighbor. In the light of the gospel reading, where the values of personal honor and dignity are set aside in favor of Jesus’ "kingdom values", "amor propio" begins to assume a different color. "Amor propio" now becomes the value that motivates one to appropriate Jesus’ kingdom values, of humility and of welcoming acceptance of the poor and the emarginated.

Luke 14:1-14
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
1And it came to pass, when Jesus went into the house of one of the chief of the Pharisees, on the sabbath day, to eat bread, that they watched him.
2And behold, there was a certain man before him that had the dropsy.
3And Jesus answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying: Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?
4But they held their peace. But he taking him, healed him, and sent him away.
5And answering them, he said: Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fall into a pit, and will not immediately draw him out, on the sabbath day?
6And they could not answer him to these things.
7And he spoke a parable also to them that were invited, marking how they chose the first seats at the table, saying to them:
8When thou art invited to a wedding, sit not down in the first place, lest perhaps one more honourable than thou be invited by him:
9And he that invited thee and him, come and say to thee, Give this man place: and then thou begin with shame to take the lowest place.
10But when thou art invited, go, sit down in the lowest place; that when he who invited thee, cometh, he may say to thee: Friend, go up higher. Then shalt thou have glory before them that sit at table with thee.
11Because every one that exalteth himself, shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted.
12And he said to him also that had invited him: When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, nor thy kinsmen, nor thy neighbours who are rich; lest perhaps they also invite thee again, and a recompense be made to thee.
13But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind;
14And thou shalt be blessed, because they have not wherewith to make thee recompense: for recompense shall be made thee at the resurrection of the just.
Hebrews 12:18-29
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
18For you are not come to a mountain that might be touched, and a burning fire, and a whirlwind, and darkness, and storm,
19And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words, which they that heard excused themselves, that the word might not be spoken to them:
20For they did not endure that which was said: And if so much as a beast shall touch the mount, it shall be stoned.
21And so terrible was that which was seen, Moses said: I am frighted, and tremble.
22But you are come to mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the company of many thousands of angels,
23And to the church of the firstborn, who are written in the heavens, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the just made perfect,
24And to Jesus the mediator of the new testament, and to the sprinkling of blood which speaketh better than that of Abel.
25See that you refuse him not that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke upon the earth, much more shall not we, that turn away from him that speaketh to us from heaven.
26Whose voice then moved the earth; but now he promiseth, saying: Yet once more, and I will move not only the earth, but heaven also.
27And in that he saith, Yet once more, he signifieth the translation of the moveable things as made, that those things may remain which are immoveable.
28Therefore receiving an immoveable kingdom, we have grace; whereby let us serve, pleasing God, with fear and reverence.
29For our God is a consuming fire.
Luke 14:1
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
1And it came to pass, when Jesus went into the house of one of the chief of the Pharisees, on the sabbath day, to eat bread, that they watched him.
Luke 14:1-14
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
1And it came to pass, when Jesus went into the house of one of the chief of the Pharisees, on the sabbath day, to eat bread, that they watched him.
2And behold, there was a certain man before him that had the dropsy.
3And Jesus answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying: Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?
4But they held their peace. But he taking him, healed him, and sent him away.
5And answering them, he said: Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fall into a pit, and will not immediately draw him out, on the sabbath day?
6And they could not answer him to these things.
7And he spoke a parable also to them that were invited, marking how they chose the first seats at the table, saying to them:
8When thou art invited to a wedding, sit not down in the first place, lest perhaps one more honourable than thou be invited by him:
9And he that invited thee and him, come and say to thee, Give this man place: and then thou begin with shame to take the lowest place.
10But when thou art invited, go, sit down in the lowest place; that when he who invited thee, cometh, he may say to thee: Friend, go up higher. Then shalt thou have glory before them that sit at table with thee.
11Because every one that exalteth himself, shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted.
12And he said to him also that had invited him: When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, nor thy kinsmen, nor thy neighbours who are rich; lest perhaps they also invite thee again, and a recompense be made to thee.
13But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind;
14And thou shalt be blessed, because they have not wherewith to make thee recompense: for recompense shall be made thee at the resurrection of the just.
Luke 14:15-24
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
15When one of them that sat at table with him, had heard these things, he said to him: Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.
16But he said to him: A certain man made a great supper, and invited many.
17And he sent his servant at the hour of supper to say to them that were invited, that they should come, for now all things are ready.
18And they began all at once to make excuse. The first said to him: I have bought a farm, and I must needs go out and see it: I pray thee, hold me excused.
19And another said: I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to try them: I pray thee, hold me excused.
20And another said: I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
21And the servant returning, told these things to his lord. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant: Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the feeble, and the blind, and the lame.
22And the servant said: Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
23And the Lord said to the servant: Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
24But I say unto you, that none of those men that were invited, shall taste of my supper.
Luke 14:7-14
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
7And he spoke a parable also to them that were invited, marking how they chose the first seats at the table, saying to them:
8When thou art invited to a wedding, sit not down in the first place, lest perhaps one more honourable than thou be invited by him:
9And he that invited thee and him, come and say to thee, Give this man place: and then thou begin with shame to take the lowest place.
10But when thou art invited, go, sit down in the lowest place; that when he who invited thee, cometh, he may say to thee: Friend, go up higher. Then shalt thou have glory before them that sit at table with thee.
11Because every one that exalteth himself, shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted.
12And he said to him also that had invited him: When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, nor thy kinsmen, nor thy neighbours who are rich; lest perhaps they also invite thee again, and a recompense be made to thee.
13But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind;
14And thou shalt be blessed, because they have not wherewith to make thee recompense: for recompense shall be made thee at the resurrection of the just.
Revelation 21:2
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
2And I John saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Colossians 3:1
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
1Therefore, if you be risen with Christ, seek the things that are above; where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God:
Hebrews 8:2
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
2A minister of the holies, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord hath pitched, and not man.
Philippians 3:20
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
20But our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ,
Colossians 3:4
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
4When Christ shall appear, who is your life, then you also shall appear with him in glory.
Ephesians 4:2
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
2With all humility and mildness, with patience, supporting one another in charity.
Colossians 3:12
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
12Put ye on therefore, as the elect of God, holy, and beloved, the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience:
Philippians 3:6-11
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
6According to zeal, persecuting the church of God; according to the justice that is in the law, conversing without blame.
7But the things that were gain to me, the same I have counted loss for Christ.
8Furthermore I count all things to be but loss for the excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but as dung, that I may gain Christ:
9And may be found in him, not having my justice, which is of the law, but that which is of the faith of Christ Jesus, which is of God, justice in faith:
10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death,
11If by any means I may attain to the resurrection which is from the dead.

Tags: , ,

Posted by angfrayle New Testament, Ordinary Time, Synoptic Gospels, The Sunday Lectionary Subscribe to RSS feed Email This Post Email This Post Print This Post Print This Post

Leave a Reply

*

Scripture and Catechism references powered by the CRE.
AWSOM Powered