Jesus was a party person.

In Sunday's gospel Jesus is found with others and meals feature an awful lot in the gospels. Sometimes Jesus is with dubious types we would not want to be seen with; at other times he is invited by people who really did not want him to be there but wanted to catch him out. I guess that we have all had people around sometimes that we don’t really want, but hopefully never when we are just deliberately waiting for someone to embarrass themselves when we can take some kind of moral high ground or superior position.

Jesus knows how to behave as a guest; there are times too when he’s direct with people about what they should say and do. He’s very good at "giving feedback" you might say. However somethings never change in human nature, if we are honest all of us are somehow impelled to go for the best seats at events we go to. 

At the time of Jesus it was common practice for the most important people at a dinner party to arrive last so it was sound practical advice from Jesus to take a lower place first, particularly when, at that time, the seating was ordered by importance and honour. But of course the skill of Jesus is that the simplest things having a deeper meaning. In the gospel he tells us how to get the best out of a party not by bigging ourselves up, but by taking a bit of a back seat and waiting to be approached by the host. He shows that humility will be rewarded. After all if you choose or are in the lowest place the only way is up. For God the truly humble person will finish up where they ought to be and receive the honour which is due to them.

Humility takes different forms. I was privileged to know someone who had a habit of throwing lavish parties. They were not always for family and friends. Sometimes they would invite people who were never invited anywhere - the sick, elderly and the lonely. They ensured that the guests had a wonderful evening with fine food and drink and great company. They did not expect a reward, and could never expect one, but they simply took pleasure in the experience of making people happy and relieving their burdens for a short while. That same person is now with God and, God willing, they, with some of their onetime earthly guests, are enjoying the hospitality of heaven.

So be like Jesus, be a party person; be a good guest; be a great host; be generous; make your heart larger by making yourself a bit smaller. I promise, you will not go unrewarded. 

As always please be assured of my daily prayers for your needs and intentions.

Fr Chris