It’s not unusual for people to play an ego game – to promote themselves as being bigger, or better or more important than those around them. And you’ve all known people who feel compelled to tell you everything they’ve done and how important they are. My response to bumper stickers saying things like, “world’s greatest lover” is “oh yeah? If you really were, you wouldn’t have to advertise.” So many people are so preoccupied with their status in the world and jockeying for social position that they never even notice the people around them.
And people find all kinds of reasons to tout themselves over others. They’re a doctor, or a lawyer, or an artist or a musician, and they put on airs. Have you ever seen the British sit-com called “Keeping up appearances?”
The main character, Hyacinth Bucket, insists that their name is pronounced “Bouquet” and is always letting everyone know how important she is. In one episode she says, "People who try to pretend they're superior make it so much harder for those of us who really are."
Our gospel lesson today is addressing this kind of person. It says, “When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable.” Then Jesus launches into a ‘story’ that says essentially, “when you are invited to a dinner, don’t presume to take the place of honor. Someone more important than you might come and then you will be embarrassed when you are told to move to a lower position.”
The first thing I want to point out about this is that it is not a parable – it falls more in the realm of a proverb or an aphorism. For those of you who might have forgotten your high school English class – an aphorism is a short, pithy statement of an evident truth (or a wisdom statement) concerned with life or nature.
One of the things that Jesus was trying to do during his time here on earth, was to reconnect the Jewish people with their heritage here on earth - reminding themselves of who they are and why they are different from the surrounding people. Most of the Jews had strayed too far away from the principles that God had passed down through the years: just like this saying about choosing a place of honor.
This was not really a new revelation when Jesus uttered these words. You can find the same thing being said in Proverbs 25:6-7. - 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." It was already a part of God's wisdom literature - but it was not part of the contemporary cultural behavior. Jesus was simply quoting a proverb to people who were supposed to already know it.
The problem is – there are lots of people who go to church on Sunday to hear and affirm the principles of Christianity that Jesus embodied, but then they go off about their business during the week as if it meant nothing. That’s something like the problem Jesus was pointing out. The Jewish people knew this proverb, but popular life had filled them to the point that they thought it meaningless or had simply forgotten it.
One of my favorite songs is “Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord.” The whole idea is that if you really are great, you don’t have to tell anyone. They’ll find out without you ever saying anything. That greatness will shine though. I've heard it said, "People will forget what you said, and they may forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel." That is emphasized in the life of Jesus Christ.
Why are we sitting here today listening to stories about Jesus Christ? it is because of the way he made people feel. He gave them hope and a reason to live. And they wanted to share that hope with others. Jesus was one of the most humble people to ever live - and more books have been written about him than anyone else in history.
One of my favorite stories is about our friend Jimmy Larkin. Sam and I met Jimmy when we were looking for a trip to Israel. Jimmy was an unassuming little woman with an un-daunt able spirit and endless energy.
One of the stories that was told about her concerned a lecture she went to in Houston concerning the Western Wall in Jerusalem. She was there quite early and was introduced to a man named Dan from out of town. He happened to mention that he wanted something from a local store, and since they had time, Jimmy volunteered to take him.
It wasn’t until after they got back and the guest speaker was introduced, that Jimmy realized she had taken Dan Bahat (the head archeologist from the Western Wall in Jerusalem) to a convenience store. That solidified a friendship between them, and we benefitted by a personal tour of the Western Wall in Jerusalem conducted by Dan Bahat himself.
That brings up a point also about our second lesson. It says, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” That’s just what Jimmy did – she showed hospitality to a stranger, and she benefitted greatly from it. This is another form of being humble. Some people do entertain angels unaware, and others will never know that blessing.
We were on vacation several years ago, traveling from Durango Colorado to Taos New Mexico. It was a long drive, without many towns along the way. We had been traveling for some time without seeing so much as a house. We got to a crossroads and there were several buildings and homes including a gas station. This place was so remote there wasn't even a McDonald's there.
Sam pulled up close to the curb and I went in and asked for a restroom. There was a hesitation and I was told that the restroom was broken, but there was one five miles down the road at a public park. As I was leaving, a car pulled up at the gas pump and a woman got out and asked for a restroom and was told, “Sure, through the shop and to the left.” I thought to myself, now there is a person who will never entertain angels unaware – he’s only interested in getting something in return.
So how do we show hospitality to strangers? One of the frequent Episcopal jokes has to do with visitors who "sit in my pew." Instead of getting mad, irritated or asking them to move, welcome them in and offer to help them navigate the worship service. Be willing to reach out, and instead of spending your time telling others how great you are, how important you are, or how holy you are, -- take the time to find out who they are, and learn and be blessed by the life and experience of those around you. Treat others no less than as equals and you may find yourself greatly blessed – with new friends and experiences and connections. Don't look for rewards from others, but from your Father who smiles down from heaven.
Amen.
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