Luke 14: 1, 7-14
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
September 1, 2019
On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely.
When [Jesus] noticed how the guests chose the places of honour, he told them a parable. ‘When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honour, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, “Give this person your place”, and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place.
But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, “Friend, move up higher”; then you will be honoured in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’
He said also to the one who had invited him, ‘When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbours, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid.
But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.
And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.’ - Luke 14: 1, 7-14
How many of you have actually said the words, “Bless your heart”? We all know when you are from the South and that phrase is dropped, it is not a complement!
I have a ministry colleague who always tells me when we are parting ways, “Carson, be blessed!” His words always make me smile. I imagine being embraced by God’s grace the rest of the day. It’s like receiving a holy hug.
Jesus did not toss out that word “blessing” or “be blessed” lightly. It was Friday night and Jesus was eating a Sabbath meal at the house of a leader of the Pharisees. Wherever Jesus went he always read the room; not in a judgmental way. Rather, Jesus looked for opportunities to open humanity’s eyes to the ways of God’s kingdom. And God’s kingdom is always turning the ways of the world upside down.
The Pharisees were tempted to see God’s favor blessing them with influence and status in the first century. In Jesus’ time the Pharisees held a seat of authority and power in the synagogues and in society. In the ancient world a high status and prosperity were associated with being blessed.
Our culture still thinks along these lines today. And yet God’s economy is very different from the world’s. According to Jesus and the Wisdom literature of the Old Testament, blessedness looks very different from the ways of the world. Blessedness is not about being prideful or about receiving honor. According to Jesus blessedness is connected with humility, one of the most godly virtues of faith.
Jesus Christ shows us what godly humility looks like: Though he was in the form of God, Jesus did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but he emptied himself (Philippians 2: 6-7). Jesus emptied himself to serve others instead of being served (Matthew 20:28). Jesus emptied himself in obedience to God on the cross (Philippians 2:8).
As followers of Jesus Christ we inherit God’s blessings promised through our ancestor Abraham in Jesus Christ. As people of faith and as the body of Christ we are to live for the praise of God’s glory – not human praise.
According to Jesus blessing did not bring about earthly recognition or prosperity. It brought something greater – God’s honor.
Luke's Gospel says God shows greatest honor to the poor and the poor in spirit and gives them the blessedness of the kingdom of God.
God shows greatest honor to the hungry and the spiritually hungry and gives them the blessedness of being filled with God’s abundance and God’s grace.
God shows greatest honor to those who weep over injustice and gives them the blessedness of trusting that God’s power will right the wrong that seems oft so strong (Luke 6: 20-21).
Therefore, Jesus tells us that when we have the opportunity to extend God’s radical hospitality we will be blessed when we clothe ourselves in Christ to be attentive to justice and showing the love of God (Luke 11:42).
When she answered the phone, the caller was asking for Barbara’s help. The caller said she had met a young woman who was pregnant and homeless and needed a place to stay. Barbara immediately talked with her husband. They both had big hearts for youth and young adults. And they felt God’s hand in this invitation to help.
Barbara and her husband gave Michelle their spare bedroom. They helped her find a doctor. At mealtimes they listened to Michelle’s stories about her life. She had gotten mixed up with the wrong crowd and drugs. Michelle wanted help to make a better life for her baby and herself.
After the baby was born and when Michelle was ready, Barbara and her husband helped Michelle secure a small apartment. They were instrumental in helping Michelle find employment. And they all agreed that Barbara and her husband would be foster parents of this child until Michelle is able to provide for her little family.
It has not been easy; there have been great joys and unforeseen challenges.
But Barbara and her husband are humbly clothing themselves in Christ to be a blessing to Michelle and her child.
I had the privilege of knowing Alice about six months before she entered the church triumphant. Her daughter Jill is a good friend of mine. And she told me this about her mom:
“My mom was an amazing woman. She was one of those people who could make friends with anyone and maintain friendships over decades. She never met a stranger and would go out of her way to be friendly and hospitable to everyone.
She was the one at our church who would invite the first-time visitors to have lunch with us after worship, not having a clue what we were having or if there would be enough. It was always good, and there always was enough. And most of the time, those spur-of-the-moment invitations blossomed into beautiful friendships and secured wonderful new members for our oftentimes struggling little church.”
Alice humbly clothed herself in Christ to be a blessing to others.
We are blessed by God to be a blessing to all God’s children. Henri Nouwen names so many ways that you and I might be a blessing to others in our daily lives. He frames these blessings in the form of questions that we should be asking ourselves daily:
Did I offer peace today?
Did I bring a smile to someone's face?
Did I say words of healing?
Did I let go of my anger and resentment?
Did I forgive?
Did I love?
Friends, a faith well lived in the light of God’s blessings is not satisfied until God’s blessings are given away and shared.
The blessings that you and I receive are not meant for us to solely keep for ourselves. When we put our faith into humble action to bring about God’s peace, to extend the joy of hospitality, to offer healing, to forgive, and to love like Jesus loves – God honors our faithfulness. And you will be blessed.
You will be blessed because you are striving to live by the weight of grace. And the weight of grace empowers you and I to walk the walk and not just talk the talk.
My friend CeCe Armstrong is a Presbyterian pastor in Charleston, SC. I will never forget when she quoted Paul’s words from Colossians, “As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved [and blessed], clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12).
And then CeCe added the following words of challenge said with care:
“Now once you clothe yourself in Christ, someone needs to see you wearing him.”
May it be so for you and for me.
In the name of God, our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.
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