Since the text of today includes 14, 1, which spoke of a Sabbath setting, this text must be seen in that light. The text is set in the context of a meal, and contains instructions on behaviour to guests who were invited. Meals were important social ceremonies, and very little was left to chance. In his instructions, Jesus advocates what may be termed as practical humility, with words from Proverbs 25,6-7. It must be noticed that when the host asks the guest to move down from the place of honour, no term of address, respect or affection is used, whereas when the host invites the guest to move up, the guest is addressed as “friend”. The future tense that is used in 14,11 (“will be humbled”, “will be exalted”) points beyond the immediate situation to the reversal of values that is characteristic of the economy of God’s kingdom. When one realises that God accepts one unconditionally, the result is practical humility.
It is not impossible to choose the lowest place or be the least if one is confident that soon one will be asked to move up higher or become great. To continue to make this choice even without that hope is the challenge.
Do you agree with this statement, “Humility is a funny thing, once you think you’ve got it, you’ve lost it”? Why?
Will you dare to continue to sit in the lowest place even if there is no hope of being asked to move up higher?
hmmm... last two paragraphs are striking... the statement about humility, in the last para, is it true ? if so have I lost it? I truly dont think so..
ReplyDeleteI would dare to sit in the lowest place.. but it depends on where I am.. I wont be comfortable to move backward, when amidst shrewd selfish people.. but otherwise, may be yes, even if there is no hope of being asked to move higher..