The one consistent in Luke’s gospel is that Jesus likes to
eat (obviously he was a Baptist) and several of the doings of Jesus take place
in the middle of eating. Luke is not shy about with who Jesus visits and eats
with, from eating with the who who’s, Simon the Pharisee, Zacheaus, or with
other tax collectors, prostitutes, and sinners. Jesus eats with anyone who
invites to him to dinner. Of course inviting Jesus to dinner, especially after
church, is an invitation to danger and trouble as we are see here:
“Now it so happened one Sunday that he went to home to
dinner with one of the denominational leaders, who were keeping a close eye on
him. Noting the scramble for the places of honor at the table, he gave some
advice to the church leaders who invited him. “When you are invited by someone
to a banquet, don’t go immediately to the head of the table. It might be that
some big shot with a higher title than yours has been invited, too, and the
person in charge of seating arrangements will have to say to you, “Please let
this gentleman have your seat.” Then with embarrassment you’ll begin to step
down to the lower seat. But when you’re invited, take the most inconspicuous
seat, and if the emcee comes in and says to you, “Hello, my friend. Come on up
here,” then you’ll feel honored before all the guests. For anyone who promotes
himself will be humiliated, and he who humbles himself will be promoted.” (Luke
14:1, 7-11 Cotton Patch Gospel).
This is one the most self-explanatory “parables” Jesus
gives, next to the parable of the sower sowing seeds one day; and we would be
justified to end our service here with the simple challenge: When you’re
invited to dinner, take the inconspicuous seat so that you may be moved up
instead taking the important seat and being asked to give up your seat. It is
an easy challenge and perhaps on the simplest level that is all Jesus is saying
to us, but I doubt this is just about which seat we have chosen. I think though
this more than about taking our seats at the banquet table.
Jesus, after making his parable observation, turns his
attention to his host, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, don’t invite your
close friends or your family or relatives or your rich neighbors, because they
might invite you to theirs or repay you in some honoring form, and you’ll break
even. But when you give any kind of a party, invite the poor, the disabled, the
crippled, and the blind. It will make you very happy, because they don’t have
anything with which to pay you back. Yet you’ll be amply ‘repaid’ when the
truly good are made to live.”
Again, Jesus’ instructions are very self-explanatory and
each of you are old enough to understand what Jesus is saying. He speaks very
plainly and I am not one to attempt to out-teach Jesus so I will simply skip
the brouhaha and go to my conclusion.
School starts Tuesday for most of our students and children
and our teachers. We all know what that first day of school is like: a mix of
emotions of excitement and dread. Parents are excited to get the kids out of
the house. The kids are dreading the end of summer vacation. Teachers,
depending on their length of experience, are also mixed with emotions of joy,
excitement, worry, and dread. The school year always carries with it the
potential to change lives and provide a new start for many. It is also a time
when teachers and students can change a system built on bullying and status.
So here is where Jesus’ words apply to us today: Teachers,
pray every day for your students. Do not just pray for your favorite ones or
the ones with money or with the good parents. Pray for them all. Pray for the
child whose mother is dying from cancer. Pray the teenager whose parents are
addicted to drugs and alcohol. Pray and lift up the student who is wearing
clothes too small or too big because their parents could not afford new clothes
that fit just right. Pray for the teenager who feels she must give herself away
in order to be loved. Pray for the boys who feel the pressure to man up by
belittling and bullying the social outcast. Pray for your fellow teachers and
administrators and lift them up, knowing they, like their students, are going
through struggles of their own.
St. Francis of Assai once said, “Preach the gospel at all
times. Use words when necessary.” Teachers, let your actions speak louder than
your words. Let your students know that you believe in them and that love them
because they are a beloved child of God. Have the patience of one who knows the
patience of God. Remember Jesus did not say, “They will know you are my
disciples by your bumper-sticker.” He said, “By your love they will know you
are my disciple.” Let his parable today challenge you to be his disciple
through your actions and not your words.
Love your students and show them how much they are valued
even when they push your patience to the end of the earth.
Students, (what did you think you’d be exempt?) remember the
words of Jesus when you take your seat at the lunch table. Remember the words
of Jesus when you see the quiet one sitting by themselves. Remember Jesus’ words
when you send invitations out for you parties and gatherings. Remember Jesus’
words when you invite others to the movies or to your church events. Remember
to not just invite your friends but those who are looking for a friend, those
who are in need of a friend who will love them for themselves. Remember Jesus’
words before you get on Facebook, Twitter, Snapshot, Tumbler, Instagram, or
when you text, or whatever new social media app there is, remember his words
and do not let your faith just be something you have on Sunday. Be kind to
everyone, love everyone because Christ loved you.
Remember to pray for your teachers as well. They are human
and bound to make mistakes. They are human with lives outside the school and
those lives, like yours, can become hectic, stressful, and painful. Pray for
them and love them, even when you think they don’t like you. Remember the words
of Jesus about humility and loving those who are outsiders and know the
outsiders are not just the “uncool” kids but may be your teacher as well.
Students, take a risk this year and befriend the unfriendly
and care for the outcast. Do not be afraid to stand up for those being bullied
or picked on. Do not be afraid to change the social order in your school.
Remember these challenging questions:
1)
What would it be like to invite a kid who seems
to be alone to sit with your group?
2)
What would it be like to reach out to someone
who is very different from you? (BTW, my best friend in high school was/is
extremely different than me and has been my friend for 17 years).
3)
What would it be like to give up your seat on
the bus to someone who got on late?
4)
What would it be like to stop someone from
bullying someone else?
5)
What would it be like to post on Facebook
something kind about someone who rarely gets noticed?
6)
What would it be like to invite someone that
doesn’t often get invited to a party or an outing?
7)
What would it be like to tweet a quotation—maybe
even verse 13 from today’s reading?
8)
What would it be like, if someone asks you why
you’re doing this, to say, it’s because it’s what you think God wants?
Students and Teachers, I not only dare you or double dog
dare you, no I triple dog dare you to defy the social convention of our schools
and stand up for justice as Christ commands us to do. Things won’t change
overnight, they rarely ever do, and you will experience setbacks and
frustrations but you are not on your own.
Right, church? (What, did you think the rest of us were
getting exempt?”)
Our challenge is to commit to praying and lifting up our youth
and children and our teachers that they may maintain courage, patience, and
love as they work and struggle through the school year. Our challenge is commit
ourselves to being the church for the churchless, for the broken, for the
students who feel alone and lost, for the students who are absent fathers or
mothers, for the students who feel they will never amount to anything. Our
challenge is commit ourselves to praying for them and for our teachers. We are
being challenged to pray they live out their call and that they love each
student as if they carried them for nine months.
Jesus is challenging us to give up our seats to those
students who looking to be loved and to feed them with the love of Christ not
in word but in our deeds. Our challenge is to make lots of room at the table
for the students who are hungry and thirsty, lost and alone, tired and weary,
angry and addicted. Our challenge is to accept them, feed them, and love them.
Are we up for this challenge?
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