Lectionary reading for Pentecost 12
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and for ever. Hebrews 13:8
Collect. O God, you call the poor and the sinful to take their place in the festive assembly of the new covenant. May your Church always honour the presence of the Lord in the humble and the suffering, and may we learn to recognise each other as brothers and sisters, gathered together around your table. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Reading. Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16. The first twelve chapters of Hebrews have expounded all that Jesus’ death and resurrection has done for them. They have been reminded of the great examples of the faith shown by Abraham, through the prophets and also been reminded of the great cloud of witnesses who like a crowd in a stadium are urging present Christians to continue the race. With that in mind now in this final chapter of the letter comes the encouragement and guidance for how to respond to “so great a salvation.” (Hebrews 2:3) Put briefly this final exhortation is saying: ‘having received God’s grace we are now to live as God’s children.’ “Let mutual love continue” suggests that they already know what mutual love is as they have already experienced it. Having recently returned from an “Emmaus Walk” it reminds us of how the church’s fellowship draws you together. The readers are being encouraged to make an effort in maintaining that experience of togetherness. It comes about by having the common purpose of wanting to honour God and God alone: In both word and action. There is also the encouragement to welcome “strangers”. This is more than just social hospitality. In a time of ongoing persecutions Christians were often driven from their homes and so would be in need of support. More broadly it would remind those from a Jewish tradition that written into the ancient law of Israel was provision to treat non Israelites with respect, when they lived among them. We remember the story in Genesis 18 of Abraham showing hospitality to strangers who turned out to be messengers from God, remembering that an “angel” is another word for a messenger. Messengers who are strangers can sometimes bring a blessing from God when we least expect it. These first few verses remind us that every human being is made in the image of God and so is worthy of respect.
The constancy of Jesus Christ leads us to give respect to the leaders whose task it is to remind us of God’s word which encourages us to continue in the faith. As Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever, through our leaders we are reminded of the confidence we can have in Him and his ongoing ministry on our behalf. With Jesus always around us as a living presence we can love and share what we have, confident in the knowledge that as in the past, so in the future Jesus will provide.
Prayer. Holy Lord, unless you show us the way we walk in darkness. Unless you change our hearts our love is marred by anxiety and fear. So dear Lord lighten our darkness and refresh our spirits that we may wholly trust in you. Lead us Lord that we may walk in your way and live in that peace which passes all understanding; then in all we do we will honour our Lord Jesus Christ in whose name we pray. Amen
(A prayer from author Ella Schenck)
Lord, in the quiet of this morning I come to you for peace, or wisdom, for power: To view the world today through love-filled eyes; To be patient, understanding, gentle, wise; To see beyond what seems to be, and know all of your children as you know them; and so notice nothing but the good in anyone; Make my ears be closed to slander that is told; Silence my tongue to anything that is unkind; Let only thoughts that bless dwell in my mind. Let me be so kindly and, so full of cheer, that all I meet may feel your presence. Clothe me in your beauty, this I pray; Let me reveal who you are, Lord, through all the day. Amen. (Ella Schenck)
Reading. Luke 14:1, 7-14. Showing hospitality on the Sabbath was a common part of Jewish life for it was an opportunity to join together and discuss religious matters. Thus for Jesus to be invited to join with a group of Pharisees was quite normal, however as our text reminds us the invitation had an ulterior motive. The phrase “watching him closely” alerts us to the idea that he is invited so that the Pharisees could judge his every word and action. We need to note that a “leader of the Pharisees’” was probably a member of the Sanhedrin, the ruling Council of both the temple and the city in respect of religious matters. Thus the key leaders had invited Jesus in order to judge his actions but with subtle irony Luke records the scene to show that in fact it is Jesus who is judging the leaders. Jesus was fully aware of their sinister objective but he was never caught off guard for as John reminds us he knew what was in men’s hearts! (John 224f). Jesus used what he saw in order to relate his parable which even for us has the ring of authenticity for who among us has not had the urge to sit in the best seats so you don’t miss out! The seating order in Jesus day was most important for it signalled your place in the society; the closer to the host the more important or influential you were! It also followed that the more important you were the more often you were invited to join with others. While that is true, Jesus was doing more than critiquing human behaviour. The purpose of his parable was to demonstrate that it is God who ranks people and gives them their status. He was drawing on ancient wisdom like Proverbs 25; which said, Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great; for it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be put lower in the presence of a noble. Proverbs 25:6–7. To be truly humble is to accept the status that God gives you, serving him in whatever the situation you find yourself. It is perhaps a paradox of the Christian faith that the greatest leader recorded in the Hebrew Scriptures, Moses, is described in Numbers 12:3 as more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth. It was a reflection of his devotion and trust in God which gave him this description. Jesus is challenging his hearers to trust in God rather than seeking mere human status.
In Jesus day it was not considered an advantage to show hospitality to the poor or the needy for of course they could not reciprocate the invitation. Therefore Jesus was reminding the leaders of the need to serve others with an unselfish heart, expecting nothing in return and so trusting God for his reward, whatever that might be! In our competitive materialistic world it is so easy to ask the question, “What will I get out of this?” Thus Jesus’ message from Luke’s record has a very modern application.
Prayer. O God, who sees into every heart, we dare not pretend that we never seek our own importance in small and larger ways. We may not aspire to be world leaders or even church leaders but we sometimes look for status in our own small circles. If we are sometimes tempted to claim a place nearer to you or to seem a little superior to our neighbours: Give us your pardon, O God. If we seek recognition as special people or take for granted the things you offer us, forgive us O God. Give us your pardon, and invite us to take our rightful place again. For we come before you as your humble people and we pray in faith. Amen. (Words for Worship)
Collect. Gracious God, generous host, at your table there is room for all; give us thankful hearts for your gracious invitation, and gladness to make space for others, for the sake of Jesus our Wisdom. Amen.
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