Show notes
Sunday 31 August 2025
Today is Sunday the 31st of August, beginning the 22nd week of Ordinary Time.
Jon Guerra sings, ‘Jesus’.
The wisdom and the word
The speaking and the silence
The stillness and the stir
The Spirit in the quiet
The son of God and man
The sinner’s lamentation
The flesh of the I Am
The song of our salvation
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
The dawnbird song of life
The spring of earth and heaven
The water and the wine
The everlasting leaven
My life, my truth, my way
The stone on which I stumble
The vineyard owner's wage
The shepherd of the humble
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
Yes, Lord, Yes, Lord
I have believed
That you are the Christ
The Son of God
It’s true, but who
Are you to me
You are my life
The love of God
My Lord, my God
Stay close, don’t be far
You know how I need you
Make in me a heart
Pure enough to see you
In every speck of dust
In dry and lonely places
And in every one of us
Be light, be kind, be gracious
Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.
Luke 14:1, 7-14
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 he 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.’
‘When he noticed….’ Here is Jesus, the observer, taking it all in.
‘They were watching him closely’, but Jesus is the one doing the real close examining, isn’t he?
How do you think we learn genuine humility? We could start by looking at Jesus Himself. You might know someone who reflects Jesus, whose true humility is at their very core. What do you notice about their behaviour?
If Jesus were to sit at table with you, what do you think he might notice? Allow Jesus to make his observations. Sit together with them for a while. Remember, he doesn’t judge, he notices.
Listen to the passage again and imagine the most unexpected guest at your table, perhaps one who cannot repay you.
Luke 14:1, 7-14
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 he 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.’
Speak openly with the Lord about anything lingering from this time of reflection. Let His teaching from today’s reading touch your very core.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be
World without end
Amen
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