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Luke 14:1-14St Cyril points out that Jesus uses the dinner at the Pharisees to teach them, and us, a lesson. They watched to see if he would do anything forbidden on the sabbath, and instead he teaches them that the Law does not forbid the exercise of mercy and humility at any time. If anyone wants to win the highest place, he can do so only by the decree of Heaven, not his own will; God loves humility, not a haughty spirit. Augustine reminds us: ‘If you exalt yourself, God throws you down. If you cast yourself down, God lifts you up.’
Irenaeus points out that table fellowship with the outcasts brings a state of blessedness now, because they cannot replay, and so you behave to them as God does to you, who also can never replay Him. Those invited to God’s Eucharistic feast are those who have received Him by humility and repentance.
The Fathers are all agreed here that humility is a mark of the Kingdom of God, and see the parable as showing, again, that it is not by the Law or by our efforts that we are saved. We should behave to others as God has to us. We are the poor, the broken and the needy, even if we do not see it; indeed, if we saw ourselves as God does, we too would be filled with compassion; when we are, we are closer to the Kingdom of Heaven. Again, the Lord reminds us that we should not puff ourselves up, for it is not thus that the kingdom is to be attained.
All Along the Watchtower 
Are these types of posts from you, C451, the sermons from your parish church? i.e. you get them from the priest….or are they your own commentaries on the lectionary text for the day? Whatever their origin, I find them interesting reflections, but I am just curious as to whether this is what you have just heard in church or not.
Many thanks 🙂
S.
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The main texts are taken from the Fathers, my own reflections are just that. The homily from my priest this morning was about something he had seen on television which he thought relevant; he has an interesting take on ‘relevant’ 🙂
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Thanks. I read the epistle this morning, which was then liberally quoted in the sermon which was contrasting ‘neighbourlyness’ with the situation in Syria and chemical weapons. There were no conclusions drawn one way or another in the sermon for military action or not, but rather a call to reflect on who we perceive our neighbours to be, and how and whether we offer hospitality to people who are less proximate, but nevertheless Christianity seems to be a call to be neighbours in some shape or form to all of humanity. Chamberlain’s quote about ‘a quarrel in a far away country between people of whom we know nothing’ was mentioned.
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Poor Neville, he spoke no more than the truth; back then few British people could have identified Czechoslovakia on a map, and even fewer have told you where the Sudetenland was.
The ‘neighbour’ thing is more difficult than we sometimes allow for. If my neighbour is heavily armed and has designs on my property and life, I am less inclined to turn the other cheek, whatever Our Lord said.
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I don’t know why all the current hullabaloo isn’t used as cover for an SAS snatch squad (or Delta Force) to go in and nab some of the key Syrian leaders. That is, if there is to be any intervention. After all, over half of the Assad family lives either in the UK, France or the UAE – so their comms will be being milked by GCHQ/NSA for info.
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Struans:
I’ve been told by a former SEAL that there are several teams in Jordan? that are training some of the rebels to do just that. Maybe, maybe not.
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That’s good news, David.
Of course, back in the day we governed Iraq with a British Resident and a few squadrons of biplanes. If only it were so easy today.
Seriously though, whatever happens in Syria, there is a special concern for Christmas: look what happened in Egypt. The hordes just want some violence to vent their anger, and guess who gets it first? So tragic.
S.
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Christians, not Christmas. Mobile phone keyboards!!
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My sympathies – I used Jessica’s last night and do not know how she does it 🙂
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