In general, the teachings of Jesus highlight the importance of humility. And to be quite honest, while I was writing this sermon, about humility, I recognised in myself quite a fair few of the non-humble traits I was writing about. Was quite a wake up call…..In today’s gospel, Jesus gives us not only guidance regarding table manners but also insight into the underlying values that influence our personal lives, our communities, and our position within the kingdom of God. These lessons encourage us to really think about what it means to be called by Christ: to live with humility and grace, while also being aware of those less fortunate than ourselves, or those who are marginalised by society.
In the gospel we see guests vying for a seat at the top table, so to speak. Pharisees, keenly aware of social status, rank & order. They exalted themselves, assuming their importance and their expectations of seats of honour. ‘Look at us, how good and honourable we are, how well we keep the laws and observe the Sabbath. How excellent we must be in the eyes of God!’ But their small mindedness which pushes itself forward, leaving others behind, is then confronted by the big-hearted love of God, which is far greater than anything we or they could ever imagine, and they end up being humbled.Jesus taught exaltation versus humility. We need to live with eternity in our sights, not present-day notoriety. We should not seek exaltation ourselves by presumptuously pursuing a position of greatness. We should assume the lower position and let God exalt us, where warranted. Humility is the true path to glory.While Jesus teaches good social advice, His main teaching is about pushing oneself forward, or rather not pushing ourselves forward, not only in the eyes of our fellows but primarily, most importantly, in the eyes of God. Just because someone has money or status doesn’t mean that he or she has a higher standing in the sight of God. We are all in a relational
position with each other, as God’s children, but it’s how we see ourselves before God that really matters, and that we do not feel deserving of the higher places. How often do we seek recognition, status, or advantage in the eyes of others? The impulse to put ourselves forward, to reach out for what we believe we deserve, is as old as humanity itself. It’s in our DNA. Arrogance, or pride, the opposite of humility, is not just wanting to be noticed, but to be the most noticed. ‘And the Lord harshly punishes the arrogant.’(Ps 31:23) Pride is the great cloud which blots out the sun of God’s generosity. Jesus spent His entire life breaking through that cloud, bringing the fresh healing sunshine of God’s love to those in its shadow.Jesus warns against this striving for status. He tells us that those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. This is not just a way of avoiding the embarrassment of being asked to take a lower seat, for example, it is a principle of the kingdom of God, a kingdom that stands in stark contrast to the world’s ways. A kingdom that is countercultural.What is humility? It is not self-abasement, nor is it the denial of our worth or gifts. Rather, humility is a realisation of where we are in the grand scheme of existence. It is the courage to see ourselves as we truly are, warts and all —no more, no less—and to regard others with genuine respect and openness. It is the ability to see ourselves honestly, to recognize our dependence on God, and to value others as highly as we value ourselves. In the eyes of Jesus, greatness is not measured by where we sit or how we are seen, but by our willingness to put others ahead of ourselves, to serve rather than be served. He came to serve, not to be served.
C.S. Lewis once wrote, "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less." A humble person does not deny their talents. Humility invites us to acknowledge our strengths with gratitude, and our weaknesses without despair. Even to boast in our weaknesses because that is when God’s power is at its greatest. Humility is indeed countercultural, as already mentioned. Our world is brimming with noise and ambition and often elevates the loudest voice or the proudest gesture. We are encouraged to seek the spotlight, to climb the ladder of success, to secure for ourselves the highest position. But Jesus says, “Take the lowest place.” In the kingdom of God, the way up is down. Literally the upside-down kingdom. True honour doesn’t come from self-promotion, but from humility before God and others.In our human lives, humility can, in fact, stand out as a powerful and transformative virtue. It has a significant influence not only on our interactions with others but also on our spiritual relationship with God. And it is not a sign of weakness, but the foundation of true strength. Scripture teaches us that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humility creates space in our hearts where wisdom can take root and where we can hear the still small voice of our God. We can approach our lives with a sense of wonder, recognizing that we are just a small part of a story thatis way bigger and grander than we are, or could ever hope to be.In everyday life, humility is being willing to listen before speaking, to serve without seeking recognition, and to admit when we have been wrong. It is demonstrated when we genuinely celebrate the success of others, but also when we share in their sadnesses or woes. It’s knowing when we need help and not being too proud to ask for it. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, or that we are a failure. On the contrary, it is a sure sign of strength, admitting that we can’t do it all on our own. We do need the help and support of others, pretty frequently actually. But more than that – we cannot ‘be’ without the help of our God. And so we can come to Him with humility and ask for His help, His grace and His mercy.
Jesus tells this parable at a dinner party. Luke uses ‘dinner party’ settings for many of Jesus’ teachings and parables. Today’s dinner party is labelled the ‘fifth disastrous dinner party’ by Nicholas King, it being the fifth such event in the gospel thus far. Four out of the five involve the Pharisees and the prickly relationship between them and Jesus. In Luke’s time of writing, the gentiles were beginning to ‘come to the party’ so to speak, many non-Jews were becoming Christians and coming along to the dinner party prepared by the God of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob. The Jews found this hard to stomach and worked hard to maintain their place at the top table, as the ‘chosen people.’ So much so, that they failed to grasp what God, though Jesus, was doing – breaking the mould, turning the world on its head. Those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted.So, let’s do more than simply imagine a place where people are not measured by status, but by love; not by wealth, but by willingness to serve; not by who they know, but by whom they welcome. This is the vision of the kingdom of God, and it begins with us, at our own tables, and in our own hearts.