Bartholomew grasps something wonderful:

I just don’t know, sometimes, how to take Jesus’ words.   Are we meant to take them literally, or look for some deeper, more profound meaning in them?  Is he just giving good advice… or trying to teach us the things of God?

If you have ever been caught in a social faux pas, you’ll appreciate how spot on Jesus was with this. If not, you can probably still imagine it.  “Er… excuse me, but I think you are sitting in my seat.” How embarrassing!  Worst still, if the host gets up and asks you to give up your seat because someone more important has come in.  That’s uber humiliating!  And the whole table gets to watch your walk of shame as, red-faced, you head for the next available seat, usually at the far end of the table, way down in the pecking order.  Best not to risk it, says Jesus.  Choose a lower seat and then feel the pride as the host gets up and leads you to a place of honour.  Far better, don’t you think?

Well, yes, I do think so. Even though I don’t often move in such social circles, or attend many events where rules and etiquette like that apply.  I see the plain wisdom of what he is saying.  It’s very good advice.

But is that all it is? Was Jesus simply giving good social advice? 

Far from it!  This simple tale, we are told, is a parable. That means it is meant to convey a deeper meaning. We are meant to look below the surface and see something more.  

So, what, then, was Jesus trying to tell us?  I think, maybe, it is this:  Beware of pushing yourself forward in the eyes of God.

I honestly don’t think Jesus cares two hoots about etiquette and social propriety.  Haven’t you noticed he’s always mixing with the outcasts, touching the untouchables, and promising that in his kingdom the first shall be last and the last shall be first?  In his mind, God just doesn’t see things like we do.  He has a very different understanding about who, and what, is important.

So why did he tell this tale?   Because everywhere around us we see people jostling for pride of position, and we see people thinking that they are more deserving of the attention of God. 

Because they are rich and ‘important’… because they are better educated… because they come from the ‘right kind of family’… because they are good and respectable, have always gone to church, and tried to do all the things the bible tells them to do…  Somewhere deep inside they think they are more deserving than others.  Sometimes we… I… think I am better than others.  I’ve been good, I deserve my reward! That seat at top table should be mine!

O dear!  Have we never understood that pride comes before the fall?  Have we never listened to anything that Jesus said about humility?  Have we forgotten that, just such a short time ago, Jesus stood a small child before us and said, if we are to enter his kingdom, we have to become like this little one?  Little one.  We have to be the little one!

More importantly, have we missed the point that all of this posturing is so unnecessary?   We don’t have to push ourselves forward. We don’t have to prove ourselves in the eyes of God.  He knows and loves us just as we are.  And it’s not just when we place ourselves too highly, but also when we set ourselves too low down that he notices.  When we humble ourselves, he lifts us up!   We may not think we deserve it – indeed, in truth, we may not actually deserve it – but, by his grace, he lifts us up! 

By his grace! 

By grace!  It is always, first and foremost, by his grace!

Understand this and we’ll never think of ourselves as better or more deserving than others.

Understand this and we’ll be ready to make our place amongst those the world despises as lowly. 

Understand this, and we will always be grateful for any seat at his table, knowing that we don’t deserve to be here, but we have every right to be here because it is his gift to give and he has given it.   It’s as simple as that!  For all our hesitation, God is our host and, in Christ, he has seen us and got up and come to greet us. Now he takes us by the hand and leads us to the place that he himself has prepared for us, inviting us to sit down in the glorious Kingdom of God.

*

Lord, it’s not about what we think of ourselves.

And it’s definitely not about what others think of us.

It’s all about what you think of us.

When we think of ourselves too highly, in your mercy, humble us.

When we think of ourselves as too lowly, in your mercy, humble us again

And lead us to trust in your grace alone.

In no way do we deserve a place at your table

but freely you have invited us

and graciously you lead us to the place that you have prepared especially for us.

We are grateful to take our place, together with all your other chosen guests,

As we sit down and celebrate life in the glorious Kingdom of God.