Fr. Jerome Pistoni sx
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
Last Sunday teaching of Jesus was given in the open, in the street.
With today’s Gospel passage we find ourselves in the house of a Pharisee, at the end of the liturgy in the synagogue, and Jesus is one of the guests.
He has been invited to a banquet and he does not miss the opportunity to teach something to those who are present.
The word of God does not remain confined in the church or in the sacristy but becomes a lamp that judges and guides our daily life. It has something to say even about the behaviour we keep during one of our most common activities: Eating in common.
Jesus cannot help noticing how the invitees conduct themselves.
That’s why he addresses the host with words that sound rather offensive, because Jesus is pointing out to him something wrong that they are doing.
It is a Sabbath day when this banquet takes place. The host and his guests watch Jesus closely; it is a hostile watching, they hope to catch him in some legal transgression in order to expose him and discredit him in front of everybody.
They fail to notice that Jesus too is watching them, not with the intention of disgracing them but with the desire of correcting them. He has noticed that, when the doors of the hall are opened, there is a scramble for the best places at the table. He advises them to choose the lower seats: for what reason? To avoid the embarrassment of being sent back to the less important places in case of the presence of more distinguished guests. This is not just good manners, but a new vision and new personal relationships when we accept the values of the Gospel.
Jesus had already said on another occasion: “The greatest among you is the one who serves”.
Choosing the lowest place is the attitude of the Christian who does not look for his personal convenience and pleasure, but is attentive to the rights and convenience of his fellow human beings. It is the same attitude of Jesus, who was not afraid to set aside the great place of honour in heaven, to come to the earth and share everything with us.
St Paul puts it clearly ““Make your own the mind of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form of God, did not count equality with God something to be grasped. But he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming as human beings are; and being in every way like a human being, he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross.
And for this God raised him high, and gave him the name which is above all other names.” (Philippians 2:5-9)
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
Last Sunday teaching of Jesus was given in the open, in the street.
With today’s Gospel passage we find ourselves in the house of a Pharisee, at the end of the liturgy in the synagogue, and Jesus is one of the guests.
He has been invited to a banquet and he does not miss the opportunity to teach something to those who are present.
The word of God does not remain confined in the church or in the sacristy but becomes a lamp that judges and guides our daily life. It has something to say even about the behaviour we keep during one of our most common activities: Eating in common.
Jesus cannot help noticing how the invitees conduct themselves.
That’s why he addresses the host with words that sound rather offensive, because Jesus is pointing out to him something wrong that they are doing.
It is a Sabbath day when this banquet takes place. The host and his guests watch Jesus closely; it is a hostile watching, they hope to catch him in some legal transgression in order to expose him and discredit him in front of everybody.
They fail to notice that Jesus too is watching them, not with the intention of disgracing them but with the desire of correcting them. He has noticed that, when the doors of the hall are opened, there is a scramble for the best places at the table. He advises them to choose the lower seats: for what reason? To avoid the embarrassment of being sent back to the less important places in case of the presence of more distinguished guests. This is not just good manners, but a new vision and new personal relationships when we accept the values of the Gospel.
Jesus had already said on another occasion: “The greatest among you is the one who serves”.
Choosing the lowest place is the attitude of the Christian who does not look for his personal convenience and pleasure, but is attentive to the rights and convenience of his fellow human beings. It is the same attitude of Jesus, who was not afraid to set aside the great place of honour in heaven, to come to the earth and share everything with us.
St Paul puts it clearly ““Make your own the mind of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form of God, did not count equality with God something to be grasped. But he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming as human beings are; and being in every way like a human being, he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross.
And for this God raised him high, and gave him the name which is above all other names.” (Philippians 2:5-9)