Pentecost Proper 17, Year C
The Rev. Nigel Taber-Hamilton, Rector
Proverbs 25: 6-7, Psalm 112 Hebrews 13: 1-8 Luke 14:1, 7-14 September 2, 2007
One of the Iconic images of the Second Gulf War was, I believe, the tape we have all seen of Sadaam Hussein's statue being pulled down by rejoicing Iraqis.
It looked very much like a similar scene back in the nineties of statues of Joseph Stalin being pulled down by rejoicing former communists.
Both scenes carry a stark reminder that self-aggrandizement is a two-edged sword which can very quickly be turned on you!
We live in a culture where self-promotion seems to be enshrined in law! Everyone and their sister or brother seems to have an agent who is constantly churning out propaganda proving how this politician or that movie-star or the other author are deserving of our admiration, respect, and - yes - worship!
Of course, it speaks of an incredible insecurity, and an arrogant belief that people's views can be manipulated to one's benefit.
And it must work - at least in the short term - or we wouldn't do it, would we!?
But I think most of us recognize on reflection the hollowness of this sort of behavior. The people we truly honor - the ones we remember after the glitz and glitter has dulled - we honor them not because they tell us we should but because we recognize something in them that speaks of integrity, selflessness, and a commitment to others.
Both the Old Testament and Gospel readings address exactly this behavior.
The gospel especially is telling - and a reminder that self-promotion is a human trait that's not limited to any one time!
Luke describes a dinner party for us. Think, for a moment how this dinner party began - Jesus got into an argument with the Leaders of the Synagogue because he'd healed a sick person on the Sabbath.
Ever been the host of a gathering where an argument breaks out? Not very pleasant is it!? The tension must have been think in the air, and after that little exchange everyone must have been watching everyone else - and almost everyone must have been worried about the impression they were making.
And so - when it comes time to eat - they immediately scramble for a seat. Again, this is behavior not limited to the 1st Century, is it?! We've all scrambled for a good seat at some function or other!
And so Jesus tells a story that intentionally challenges the ordinary behavior of these guests by quoting from Proverbs - our Old Testament reading.
Now Miss Manners would be proud of him!
But the truth is that the story isn't about table manners. It's not even about a meal at all, in the end. Its about the way we live our lives. We should, Jesus is reminding us, take this vision of hospitality and apply it to our daily living, not just our table fellowship.
So this story is about the Kingdom of God and its values, primary among which is an understanding of hospitality that's the opposite of the cultural norm - a hospitality that's not predicated on a search for status and opportunity - not about using social situations for personal benefit.
It's a hospitality that is secure in its self-knowledge, and so free from doubt, free from the need to self-promote, free from the insecurities that seem to plague us as human beings.
That's what the writer of the Letter to the Jewish People - Hebrews - is talking about, and using "bumper-sticker" language to do it!
There is a great freedom, he reminds his readers, that comes with knowing that we are loved and sustained by God. It's a freedom that allows us to give generously of ourselves and our resources, to give the best place to others without concern.
When we're confident of God's larger purposes, then we as followers of Jesus can take risks and remain secure, can welcome status reversals, can live without fear.
When, in other words, our security is located in God, in Jesus who is, Hebrews says, "the same yesterday and today and forever," we can deal with the unpredictability and the risks of this different way of living. We can - as Jesus suggests today - show hospitality to needy strangers, spend time with prisoners and share our resources with the poor because God has promised never to forsake us.
Today's gospel is a reminder to us of how much we are made prisoners by following social conventions, how insecure we can feel if we believe the propaganda, and how hard it is to love and be free to do good things when we are so wrapped up in our self-image that we end up creating God in our own image rather than recognizing that actually faith demands we do the opposite.
We are held in God's gracious hand - we have the gift of the Holy Spirit to support us in our ministry of hospitality.
And with that grace we have the strength to lay aside what ever the latest version of status-seeking is, lay aside what ever fears we have about losing our place.
Amen
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